Karla
Walter

Senior Fellow, American Worker Project

she/her

Close

Contact
Karla Walter

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name*

Karla Walter is a senior fellow for the American Worker Project at American Progress. Walter focuses primarily on improving the economic security of American workers by increasing workers’ wages and benefits, promoting workplace protections, and advancing workers’ rights at work. Prior to joining American Progress, Walter was a research analyst at Good Jobs First, providing support to officials, policy research organizations, and grassroots advocacy groups striving to make state and local economic development subsidies more accountable and effective. She has co-authored several studies that promote economic development policies that meet workers’ needs and advocate for greater corporate accountability. Previously, she worked as a legislative aide for Wisconsin State Rep. Jennifer Shilling. Her work has been referenced in The New York Times and other newspapers. Walter earned a master’s degree in urban planning and policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Latest

Compact View

Virginia Workers’ Biggest Win in Decades Could Come in 2026 Report
Virginia State Capitol building

Virginia Workers’ Biggest Win in Decades Could Come in 2026

Virginia lawmakers can empower hundreds of thousands of state and local government workers to unionize and bargain collectively over wages, benefits, and working conditions. Doing so will help make work pay for Virginia families; allow state and local governments to attract and retain well-qualified workers; and align with the values of everyday Americans.

Karla Walter

The Fight To Unionize Starbucks by the Numbers Article
A Starbucks sign is reflected in the window as Starbucks employees, union members and supporters strike outside of a Starbucks store.

The Fight To Unionize Starbucks by the Numbers

Thousands of unionized Starbucks workers across the country are ramping up pressure on the corporation to finalize a first contract that could boost take home pay, hours, benefits, and working conditions.

Karla Walter, David Madland

Good Jobs for Government Workers Improve Public Services Report
A bus driver steers into the Forest Hills Station in Boston.

Good Jobs for Government Workers Improve Public Services

By maintaining fair working conditions for government workers, state and local policymakers can increase productivity, improve public outcomes, support stable revenues, and attract the next generation of public servants.

Karla Walter, Sachin Shiva

Governors Should Fight for an Economic Agenda To Improve the Lives of Working-Class Residents Report
Workers install solar panels.

Governors Should Fight for an Economic Agenda To Improve the Lives of Working-Class Residents

By advancing policies to build power and raise the wages of working-class families, governors can improve economic opportunity for all state residents and illustrate a strong contrast with the Trump administration, which is abandoning its commitments to working people.

Karla Walter

Load More

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Default Opt Ins

This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form

Variable Opt Ins

This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.