Karla
Walter

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.

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.

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.

How State Spending Can Create a Good Jobs Economy

In a report published by State Innovation Exchange (SiX), Karla Walter outlines six ways states can create a good jobs economy.

Trump Is Making America Greater for Billionaires, Not Workers

In an op-ed published by InsideSources, Karla Walter and David Madland break down the real economic impacts that Trump’s recent slew of executive orders could have on everyday Americans.

What State Lawmakers Could Do for Working-Class Americans

In an op-ed published by Governing, Karla Walter and David Madland describe tangible, proven strategies state policymakers can use to strengthen the power of the working class in their communities this year.

8 Ways States Can Build Worker Power

State lawmakers should act to strengthen workers’ power in the economy.

7 Ways State Lawmakers Can Build Public Sector Union Power

State lawmakers can adopt new policies to empower workers across the public sector to come together in strong unions, negotiate for fair pay and working conditions, and train the next generation for public service.

Too Many Airport Service Workers Earn Low Wages and Benefits

New CAP analysis shows many essential airport service workers earn less than $15 per hour. Here’s how policymakers can fix that.

4 Lessons on Creating Good Manufacturing Jobs Through the Biden-Harris Administration’s Industrial Investments

The Biden-Harris administration's industrial investments from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act are creating U.S. manufacturing jobs and often result in high-quality union jobs, but policymakers can go further to uphold job quality on projects that receive federal investments.

Public Officials Should Use Their Bully Pulpit To Support Worker Organizing and Bargaining

Pro-worker policymakers should use public and private rhetoric to support organizing campaigns and ensure government spending creates high-quality union jobs.

Op-ed: Airport service workers demand better support in the workplace. It’s time we listen

Karla Walter published an op-ed in Crain’s New York Business arguing for why airport service workers under the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey deserve better workplace standards.

Summit on Education: Reset. Reframe. Reform.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Airport Service Workers Deserve Good Jobs

Raising pay and benefits for workers in federally supported airports will stabilize the air industry.

How To Support Good Jobs and Workforce Equity on Federal Infrastructure Projects

As funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act flow through federal and state project owners, agencies must build long-lasting capacity to provide equitable access to high-quality jobs.

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.

How Biden’s American-Style Industrial Policy Will Create Quality Jobs

The Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act are key pillars of a transformative industrial policy platform.

Prevailing Wages Can Build Good Jobs Into America’s Electric Vehicle Industry

By instituting prevailing wage policies, policymakers can ensure that the jobs they subsidize in one of America's newest industries offer fair wages and benefits.

4 Strategies to Create Good Jobs, Boost Equity With Federal Infrastructure Funds

Karla Walter outlines four strategies for states to ensure new federal infrastructure funds from the IIJA create good jobs and boost equity in local communities.

Proven State and Local Strategies To Create Good Jobs With IIJA Infrastructure Funds

This report outlines four proven ways to ensure that new federal infrastructure investments create good jobs, boost equity, and support good value.

When contractors pay bad wages, the public shoulders the burden

Karla Walter highlights how new regulations governing the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts will ensure that workers on construction projects receiving federal funding are paid fairly.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Video: How Unions Help Increase Wealth for All and Close Racial Wealth Gaps

Unions help narrow the gap between working families and the superrich.

How the U.S. Government Should Enforce Prevailing Wage Standards in All of Its Spending

As lawmakers debate economic recovery investments, they must ensure that all companies receiving government funding comply with job quality standards.

The Clean Economy Revolution Will Be Unionized

State and local progress can inform federal action to support high-quality, union jobs building the clean economy.

Higher Pay For Caregivers

Karla Walter explores how higher home care wages reduce economic hardship and improve recruitment and retention.

Service Contract Workers Deserve Good Jobs

President Biden is using his executive authority to build power and improve the lives of contract workers; he can do even more to raise standards for service workers.

COVID-19 Economic Recovery Investments Must Benefit American Workers

Policymakers can ensure that economic recovery spending benefits working Americans from all walks of life by adopting model job quality language.

Prevailing Wages: Frequently Asked Questions

Policymakers can use prevailing wages to set strong compensation rates across industries and occupations, benefitting workers and taxpayers alike.

A How-To Guide for Strengthening State and Local Prevailing Wage Laws

This report provides a road map for state and local policymakers working to create or strengthen prevailing wage laws, explains core features of prevailing wage legislation, and lifts up existing best practices from around the county.

Federal Contracting Doesn’t Go Far Enough To Protect American Workers

Author Karla Walter explains how the Biden administration can fix problems in the federal contracting system.

Electric Vehicles Should Be a Win for American Workers

Federal policymakers must invest in domestic electric vehicle production and deployment now in order to support high-quality American jobs, cut greenhouse gas emissions over the long term, and ensure national competitiveness in a key area of growth.