Inclusive Growth

Inclusive Economy

We are focused on building an inclusive economy by expanding worker power, investing in families, and advancing a social compact that encourages sustainable and equitable growth.

A subway train pulls into the Flushing Avenue station in Brooklyn.
A subway train pulls into the Flushing Avenue station in Brooklyn on February 2, 2019, in New York City. (Getty/Gary Hershorn)

What We're Doing

Investing in people

We seek to eliminate poverty and ensure every American, regardless of their ZIP code, can live a life of dignity by developing, protecting, and expanding vital economic security policies and safety net programs.

Achieving sustainable growth

We work to address structural issues in the economy by promoting bold public investments, progressive tax reforms that require the wealthy to pay their fair share, and sound fiscal policies to support broad-based economic growth.

Expanding worker power

We work to ensure executive actions and legislation, promote high-quality jobs, increase worker power, and raise standards for government contract workers. As part of this effort, we are pushing for a federal $15 minimum wage and strengthening workers’ voices in their workplace.

Championing a new social compact

We need a new social compact with business that reimagines their obligations to society on issues such as environmental and climate matters, economic opportunity for workers, paying their fair share in taxes, and racial equality in the pursuit of more sustainable, innovative growth.

Latest

Compact View

Harris’ Plan To Raise the Minimum Wage and Eliminate Tax on Tips Would Benefit Service and Hospitality Workers Article
Photo shows Kamala Harris smiling and gesticulating as she speaks behind a podium with the Vice President of the United States seal

Harris’ Plan To Raise the Minimum Wage and Eliminate Tax on Tips Would Benefit Service and Hospitality Workers

Crucially, the vice president’s proposal would provide guardrails to keep the policy aimed at low-paid workers, in contrast to Trump’s plan, which would allow the wealthy to skirt taxes.

4 Ways Unions Make Our Economy and Democracy Stronger Article

4 Ways Unions Make Our Economy and Democracy Stronger

Unions raise wages for workers, reduce inequality, increase voter turnout, and advance middle-class interests; policymakers should make strengthening unions a top priority.

the Center for American Progress

Sachin Shiva

Project 2025 Would Undo the NLRB’s Progress on Protecting Workers’ Right To Organize Article

Project 2025 Would Undo the NLRB’s Progress on Protecting Workers’ Right To Organize

Workers are winning a greater percentage of NLRB-overseen union elections than at any point in the past 15 years as Biden administration appointees help protect workers' right to organize—but a conservative policy plan offers a blueprint for eroding the NLRB's ability to protect organizing workers.

the Center for American Progress

Aurelia Glass

Unions Give Workers a Voice Over How AI Affects Their Jobs Report

Unions Give Workers a Voice Over How AI Affects Their Jobs

Collective bargaining is a powerful tool workers can use to ensure artificial intelligence and algorithmic technology improve their jobs instead of make working conditions worse, and workers have won several recent contracts that give them power over how AI will affect their working lives.

the Center for American Progress

Aurelia Glass

8 Ways the Biden Administration Is Improving the Lives of Service Workers Article

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.

the Center for American Progress

Karla Walter

It’s time for local policymakers to cement the Biden administration’s workforce gains In the News

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.

Route Fifty

Karla Walter

Communities That Lost Manufacturing Jobs Are Main Beneficiaries of Biden Administration’s New Industrial Policy Article

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.

the Center for American Progress

Aurelia Glass, David Madland

Construction of Tennessee EV Battery Facility Highlights Promises and Challenges of Biden Administration Policies Report

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.

the Center for American Progress

David Madland, Kyle Ross

Government on Workers’ Side Report

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.

the Center for American Progress

Karla Walter

5 Reasons Automakers Must Provide Good Jobs and Lower Vehicle Emissions Article

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.

the Center for American Progress

Leo Banks, Karla Walter, Anona Neal

How Project Labor Agreements and Community Workforce Agreements Are Good for the Biden Administration’s Investment Agenda Report

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.

the Center for American Progress

Aurelia Glass, Karla Walter

4 Job Quality Questions All Applicants for New Federal Funds Should Answer Report
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4 Job Quality Questions All Applicants for New Federal Funds Should Answer

States, cities, and private sector applicants can improve their chances of winning new federal support through the Inflation Reduction Act, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and CHIPS and Science Act by demonstrating that their proposals will create good jobs for working people from all walks of life.

the Center for American Progress

Karla Walter

Public and Private Investments Are Poised To Transform Michigan Report
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Public and Private Investments Are Poised To Transform Michigan

The historic home of the automotive industry, Michigan, stands to benefit from major infrastructure improvements and new plants for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries, especially if it incorporates public input and builds worker power to grow the middle class.

the Center for American Progress

David Ballard, Lily Roberts, Marina Zhavoronkova, 4 More Kevin DeGood, Emily Gee, Jessica Vela, Karla Walter

Beware Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis’ anti-worker agenda In the News
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Beware Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis’ anti-worker agenda

In a new op-ed, David Madland breaks down why Gov. DeSantis’ anti-worker agenda shouldn’t go unnoticed.

The Pennsylvania Capitol-Star

How States and Unions Can Partner To Build the Public Sector Workforce Report

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.

the Center for American Progress

Karla Walter

5 Policy Priorities for the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Article
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5 Policy Priorities for the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization

The reauthorization of Federal Aviation Administration programs should provide dedicated funding for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from airplanes and airports, an increase in the Passenger Facility Charge, and decent wages and benefits for airport service workers.

the Center for American Progress

Kevin DeGood, Karla Walter

How historic infrastructure investments can benefit women workers In the News
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How historic infrastructure investments can benefit women workers

Karla Walter partnered with Sharita Gruberg to break down the potential long-lasting benefits for women in manufacturing due to President Joe Biden’s historic economic legislation.

The Hill

Sharita Gruberg, Karla Walter

The NLRB Protects Workers’ Rights To Organize, Yet Remains Underfunded Report
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The NLRB Protects Workers’ Rights To Organize, Yet Remains Underfunded

Under the Biden administration, the National Labor Relations Board is striving to protect workers' right to form a union and collectively bargain, but the agency remains underfunded and understaffed.

the Center for American Progress

Aurelia Glass

Lessons From New Zealand’s New Sectoral Bargaining Law Report
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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.

the Center for American Progress

David Madland

Worker Rights Are Getting a Major Shake Up In the News
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Worker Rights Are Getting a Major Shake Up

David Madland discusses California's FAST Recovery Act, which gives the state's fast-food workers a seat at the negotiating table to help set industrywide standards.

Route Fifty

David Madland

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