Washington, D.C. — Industry standards boards have been adopted by six states and three cities since 2018, bringing together representatives of workers, employers, and government in a forum to help set minimum workplace standards for entire sectors of the economy. A new Center for American Progress report evaluates these industry standards boards and does in-depth case analysis on how these boards are shaping industries around the country. Evaluation of these industry standards boards finds that they:
- Raise pay and other standards. Standards boards are helping raise wages to $20.50 per hour for nursing home workers in Minnesota, to $20 per hour for fast-food workers in California, and to $16 per hour for home care workers in Nevada.
- Build workers’ power. The boards have raised standards in a way that has helped engage workers, enabling them to express their collective power and to develop into worker-leaders ready to take additional actions to improve conditions in their industry.
- Create coalitions to improve industries. Elected officials have expressed strong support for these standards boards, arguing that they can benefit workers and help address employer challenges such as high turnover. Similarly, some employers express public support for board processes, which they believe give firms tools to help improve their industries.
- Are most successful when they have strong legal authorities. Certain boards have accomplished more than others in part because they have the ability to hire dedicated staff, an easy process for their recommendations to become law, and worker-led compliance mechanisms.
“Industry standards boards are empowering workers and creating better working conditions for key industries, from nursing homes and home care to fast food and agriculture,” said David Madland, senior fellow at CAP and co-author of the report. “To build on the success of industry standards boards, it is critical that these boards are expanded to other states and industries alongside greater resources and legal authorities. By bringing together workers, employers and government officials, these boards can bring forward new best-in-class industry standards.”
Read the report: “Industry Standards Boards Are Delivering Results for Workers, Employers, and Their Communities” by David Madland and Sachin Shiva
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