Women Are Driving the Rise in Union Member Support for Democrats ReportJuly 15, 2025 Women Are Driving the Rise in Union Member Support for Democrats Working-class and college-educated union women increasingly support Democratic Party presidential candidates, but support is lower among working-class union men. Jul 15, 2025 Aurelia Glass, David Madland
State Legislators Fighting for the Working Class Past EventJune 25, 2025 State Legislators Fighting for the Working Class Please join the Center for American Progress Action Fund and State Innovation Exchange (SiX) Action for a discussion with state lawmakers on how to promote a policy agenda to support the working class. Online only Jun 25, 2025
Working-Class Voters, the Economy, and the Democratic Party Past EventMarch 26, 2025 Working-Class Voters, the Economy, and the Democratic Party Please join the Center for American Progress Action Fund for an event featuring Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and an expert panel on how the economy and economic policy shape the preferences of working-class voters. Online via Zoom Mar 26, 2025
Since 2020, Union Member Support for Democrats Has Increased ReportJuly 30, 2024 Since 2020, Union Member Support for Democrats Has Increased New Center for American Progress Action Fund analysis shows that support for Democrats among union voters grew in 2020 and 2022 after decreasing in 2016 and 2018; whether this trend continues could have major effects on the election in 2024. Jul 30, 2024 Aurelia Glass, David Madland
8 Ways the Biden Administration Is Improving the Lives of Service Workers ArticleApril 9, 2024 8 Ways the Biden Administration Is Improving the Lives of Service Workers The Biden administration is raising pay, building power, and improving living standards for service workers across the economy—including fast-food cooks, call center workers, teachers, home care workers, and federal employees. Apr 9, 2024 the Center for American Progress Karla Walter
It’s time for local policymakers to cement the Biden administration’s workforce gains In the NewsMarch 25, 2024 It’s time for local policymakers to cement the Biden administration’s workforce gains Karla Walter writes in Route Fifty about the need for policymakers to build on the Biden administration’s historic federal infrastructure investments, arguing that one of the best ways to cement these workforce gains is for local jurisdictions to strengthen their job quality standards. Mar 25, 2024 Route Fifty Karla Walter
Unions Continue To Build Wealth for All Americans ArticleMarch 20, 2024 Unions Continue To Build Wealth for All Americans New data show unions increase wealth across education levels and close racial wealth gaps. Mar 20, 2024 the Center for American Progress David Madland, Christian E. Weller, Sachin Shiva
Americans benefitting from Biden’s policies have no idea he’s involved In the NewsMarch 6, 2024 Americans benefitting from Biden’s policies have no idea he’s involved David Madland explains in why President Joe Biden needs to make clear to voters that his economic policies are creating good union jobs. Mar 6, 2024 The Hill David Madland
Communities That Lost Manufacturing Jobs Are Main Beneficiaries of Biden Administration’s New Industrial Policy ArticleMarch 6, 2024 Communities That Lost Manufacturing Jobs Are Main Beneficiaries of Biden Administration’s New Industrial Policy New analysis finds that private investments from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act are being announced in the communities that have been hit hardest by disinvestment in American manufacturing. Mar 6, 2024 the Center for American Progress Aurelia Glass, David Madland
Construction of Tennessee EV Battery Facility Highlights Promises and Challenges of Biden Administration Policies ReportFebruary 26, 2024 Construction of Tennessee EV Battery Facility Highlights Promises and Challenges of Biden Administration Policies Tennessee’s BlueOval City electric vehicle battery facility shows how public investments can lead to good union jobs, but anecdotal evidence suggests that workers are not connecting these jobs to important economic policies. Feb 26, 2024 the Center for American Progress David Madland, Kyle Ross
President Biden Should Veto Anti-Worker Lawmakers’ Attack on Union Rights ArticleFebruary 8, 2024 President Biden Should Veto Anti-Worker Lawmakers’ Attack on Union Rights The Biden administration is fighting to protect fast food and outsourced workers’ right to come together in unions—and shouldn’t let anti-worker lawmakers undermine these efforts. Feb 8, 2024 the Center for American Progress Karla Walter
Government on Workers’ Side ReportJanuary 31, 2024 Government on Workers’ Side State and local policymakers can raise standards for workers and the public through prevailing wages, project labor agreements, and several other best practices. Jan 31, 2024 the Center for American Progress Karla Walter
What It Will Take To Increase Union Membership and Collective Bargaining Coverage ArticleJanuary 17, 2024 What It Will Take To Increase Union Membership and Collective Bargaining Coverage Continued worker action and major policy reforms are needed for union membership and collective bargaining to significantly increase. Jan 17, 2024 the Center for American Progress David Madland
How Labor Unions Help Reduce the Pay Gap for Disabled Workers ArticleDecember 6, 2023 How Labor Unions Help Reduce the Pay Gap for Disabled Workers Disabled workers are underpaid, but union membership helps ensure they earn the same wages as their nondisabled peers. Dec 6, 2023 the Center for American Progress Aurelia Glass
Workers Want Unions: How States Have Strengthened Worker Power in 2023 ArticleNovember 1, 2023 Workers Want Unions: How States Have Strengthened Worker Power in 2023 States are taking action to strengthen workers’ ability to unionize and collectively bargain as well as raise job standards. Nov 1, 2023 the Center for American Progress Isabela Salas-Betsch, Karla Walter
Point: Strong Prevailing Wage Standards Help Grow the Economy In the NewsOctober 19, 2023 Point: Strong Prevailing Wage Standards Help Grow the Economy In an InsideSources op-ed, Karla Walter argues why the Biden administration’s support of prevailing wage standards will help grow the middle class. Oct 19, 2023 InsideSources Karla Walter
5 Reasons Automakers Must Provide Good Jobs and Lower Vehicle Emissions ArticleSeptember 12, 2023 5 Reasons Automakers Must Provide Good Jobs and Lower Vehicle Emissions In the face of demands for better jobs and stronger health protections, some automakers claim they can’t improve job quality and lower vehicle emissions—but they have the resources to support middle-class-led economic growth and clean up their vehicle fleets. Sep 12, 2023 the Center for American Progress Leo Banks, Karla Walter, Anona Neal
Momentum for Worker Standards Boards Continues To Grow ArticleSeptember 7, 2023 Momentum for Worker Standards Boards Continues To Grow Since 2018, six states and three local governments have enacted laws that bring workers and employers together to recommend standards for sectors of the economy. Sep 7, 2023 the Center for American Progress Aurelia Glass, David Madland
What You Need To Know About Gen Z’s Support for Unions ArticleAugust 9, 2023 What You Need To Know About Gen Z’s Support for Unions Gen Zers are eager to organize and are winning union gains for themselves at workplaces nationwide. Aug 9, 2023 the Center for American Progress Aurelia Glass
How Project Labor Agreements and Community Workforce Agreements Are Good for the Biden Administration’s Investment Agenda ReportJuly 21, 2023 How Project Labor Agreements and Community Workforce Agreements Are Good for the Biden Administration’s Investment Agenda Project labor agreements and community workforce agreements are time-tested tools that can support good value and good jobs on projects funded by the new federal economic investments. Jul 21, 2023 the Center for American Progress Aurelia Glass, Karla Walter
How States and Unions Can Partner To Build the Public Sector Workforce ReportMarch 23, 2023 How States and Unions Can Partner To Build the Public Sector Workforce Partnering with unions to train public sector workers helps states uphold high-quality standards; connect with and recruit from local communities; and address the nation’s public sector hiring challenges. Mar 23, 2023 the Center for American Progress Karla Walter
Lessons From New Zealand’s New Sectoral Bargaining Law ReportNovember 29, 2022 Lessons From New Zealand’s New Sectoral Bargaining Law Unions and policymakers in New Zealand are seeking a solution to address stagnant wages, rising economic inequality, and low productivity after the failures of worksite-only bargaining—and the United States can learn from their efforts. Nov 29, 2022 the Center for American Progress David Madland
Reconciliation can be a game changer for pro-worker policies In the NewsAugust 27, 2022 Reconciliation can be a game changer for pro-worker policies David Madland argues that the Inflation Reduction Act has opened the door for future pro-worker policies to pass through the budget reconciliation process. Aug 27, 2022 The Hill David Madland
For Unionized Amazon Workers, Lessons From Italy May Hold Key to Success In the NewsJune 7, 2022 For Unionized Amazon Workers, Lessons From Italy May Hold Key to Success David Madland outlines several lessons learned from the historic nationwide contracts that Amazon workers in Italy signed in 2021 and suggests a path forward for unionized workers at Amazon's Staten Island warehouse, who must now try to sign a collective bargaining agreement. Jun 7, 2022 InsideSources David Madland
Lessons From Italian Unions’ Historic Agreement With Amazon ReportMay 13, 2022 Lessons From Italian Unions’ Historic Agreement With Amazon Facilitated by worker activism, supportive policy, and a sectoral bargaining system, unions in Italy signed a collective bargaining agreement with Amazon, offering optimism for U.S. workers seeking to negotiate with the company. May 13, 2022 David Madland
New Opportunities for the Biden-Harris Administration To Create Good Jobs for LGBTQI+ Workers In the NewsApril 8, 2022 New Opportunities for the Biden-Harris Administration To Create Good Jobs for LGBTQI+ Workers For decades, the U.S. economy has left LGBTQI+ individuals and their families behind, but the Biden-Harris administration can use its existing authority to uplift LGBTQI+ workers. Apr 8, 2022 the Center for American Progress Aurelia Glass, Sharita Gruberg, Caroline Medina, 1 More Karla Walter
Worker Boards Across the Country Are Empowering Workers and Implementing Workforce Standards Across Industries ArticleFebruary 18, 2022 Worker Boards Across the Country Are Empowering Workers and Implementing Workforce Standards Across Industries Worker boards have achieved real momentum in the United States, with four states and three local governments enacting laws since 2018 that bring workers and employers together to recommend standards. Feb 18, 2022 the Center for American Progress Aurelia Glass, David Madland
Congress must deliver on bipartisan infrastructure promises to workers with these two steps In the NewsJanuary 31, 2022 Congress must deliver on bipartisan infrastructure promises to workers with these two steps Karla Walter writes about how Congress can create good infrastructure jobs for American workers. Jan 31, 2022 The Hill Karla Walter
Federal Contractors Are Violating Workers’ Rights and Harming the U.S. Government ReportJanuary 21, 2022 Federal Contractors Are Violating Workers’ Rights and Harming the U.S. Government New analysis from the Center for American Progress Action Fund finds that government contractors that break workplace laws frequently perform poorly and waste public resources. Jan 21, 2022 Karla Walter, Divya Vijay, Malkie Wall
Raising Wages and Narrowing Pay Gaps With Service Sector Prevailing Wage Laws ReportJanuary 19, 2022 Raising Wages and Narrowing Pay Gaps With Service Sector Prevailing Wage Laws Prevailing wage laws for government service contracts can uplift wages and benefits; reduce racial pay gaps; and could have a range of positive effects on worker turnover, service quality, local budgets, and collective bargaining. Jan 19, 2022 the Center for American Progress Aurelia Glass, David Madland, Karla Walter
Unions Are Critical to the Democratic Party’s Electoral Success ReportDecember 21, 2021 Unions Are Critical to the Democratic Party’s Electoral Success New CAP Action analysis finds that union members voted for the Democratic Party presidential candidate in much greater proportions than did nonunion members in 2020, cementing President Biden’s electoral victory and offering a path forward for the party to maintain and grow support. Dec 21, 2021 Aurelia Glass, David Madland, Ruy Teixeira
3 Major Wins for Workers in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package ArticleNovember 29, 2021 3 Major Wins for Workers in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will create pathways for all Americans into U.S.-based jobs that pay decent wages and benefits. Nov 29, 2021 Center for American Progress Karla Walter, Mike Williams
City poised to set labor standards by sector In the NewsNovember 28, 2021 City poised to set labor standards by sector David Madland praises a new Detroit city ordinance that would create a process for bringing together representatives of workers, employers, and the public to make recommendations around minimum compensation and standards for certain industries. Nov 28, 2021 the Detroit Free Press. See the November 28 print edition for the full article David Madland
Video: How Sectoral Bargaining Can Help All Workers Have a Union Voice ArticleNovember 15, 2021 Video: How Sectoral Bargaining Can Help All Workers Have a Union Voice Sectoral bargaining allows workers to negotiate wages and job standards across an industry, improving working conditions and boosting productivity. Nov 15, 2021 Center for American Progress David Madland
Workers Are Rising Up Across the Nation. It’s Time for America to Listen In the NewsOctober 28, 2021 Workers Are Rising Up Across the Nation. It’s Time for America to Listen In light of the strikes happening across industries this month, David Madland argues that Congress and companies should heed workers' calls for better jobs. Oct 28, 2021 Newsweek David Madland
Unions can rebuild the middle class and narrow the racial wealth gap In the NewsSeptember 13, 2021 Unions can rebuild the middle class and narrow the racial wealth gap Aurelia Glass and David Madland explain how increasing union membership can help rebuild the middle class and narrow the racial wealth gap in the United States. Sep 13, 2021 The Hill Aurelia Glass, David Madland