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11 Things State and Local Governments Can Do to Build Worker Power
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11 Things State and Local Governments Can Do to Build Worker Power

Authors Malkie Wall and David Madland urge state and local officials to act now to strengthen worker power in the workplace and beyond.

American workers do not have the rights and protections they need and deserve in the workplace or in the U.S. democratic system. Despite public support for policies that promote good jobs, the COVID-19 pandemic has repeatedly underscored how decent pay, health insurance, paid family and medical leave, and safety on the job are still far from guaranteed—even for workers deemed essential to their communities and the nation’s economy. Moreover, pandemic-induced economic trends have only served to deepen existing inequalities, including long-standing racial disparities. Confronting these challenges will take more than simply raising minimum standards. Policymakers must also work to reestablish worker power in the economy, including by strengthening unions.

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Authors

Malkie Wall

Research Associate

David Madland

Senior Fellow; Senior Adviser, American Worker Project

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