she/her
Karla Walter is the senior director of Employment Policy 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.
Karla Walter explores how higher home care wages reduce economic hardship and improve recruitment and retention.
Authors Allison Preiss and Karla Walter explain how cities and states can protect gig-economy workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Jennifer Grøndahl and Karla Walter discuss how Phoenix's new apprenticeship program is solving the city's increasing demand for work related to government services.
Karla Walter outlines the potentially harmful effects of a bipartisan bill that would gut worker protections for employees in the fast-food industry.
Author Karla Walter explains how a new National Labor Relations Board rule threatens to to undermine joint-employer liability safeguards.
Author Karla Walter discusses how members-only unions serve to divide workers and erode their ability to improve their work conditions.
In Janus v. AFSCME, the Supreme Court weakened the freedom of government workers to come together in strong unions; now, progressive state and local leaders must fight for public sector unions.
