Low Standards Hurt Security Officers’ Ability To Make Ends Meet ReportOctober 1, 2025 Low Standards Hurt Security Officers’ Ability To Make Ends Meet Flatlining wages and insufficient benefits force many security officers to rely on public supports such as Medicaid—and industry consolidation is making things worse. Oct 1, 2025 Aurelia Glass
Good Jobs for Government Workers Improve Public Services ReportSeptember 15, 2025 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. Sep 15, 2025 Karla Walter, Sachin Shiva
State Rideshare Collective Bargaining Policies Hold Great Promise ReportAugust 6, 2025 State Rideshare Collective Bargaining Policies Hold Great Promise A state model will test whether a simpler path to a union and sectoral bargaining can build power for Uber and Lyft drivers and improve jobs in the industry. Aug 6, 2025 David Madland
Fact Sheet: What To Know About the Child Care for Working Families Act Fact SheetJuly 16, 2025 Fact Sheet: What To Know About the Child Care for Working Families Act The Child Care for Working Families Act would make child care more accessible and affordable, promote high-quality care options, and support child care workers. Jul 16, 2025 The Early Childhood Policy Team
Despite Musk’s Departure, Trump’s War Against Unions and Workers Will Continue ArticleJune 23, 2025 Despite Musk’s Departure, Trump’s War Against Unions and Workers Will Continue While DOGE made headlines for firing tens of thousands of federal workers, Elon Musk's departure will not slow down the Trump administration’s efforts to end collective bargaining for more than 1 million workers, slash wage protections for hundreds of thousands, and muzzle a key agency protecting organizing rights. Jun 23, 2025 Aurelia Glass
LGBTQI+ People Are Working, Healing, and Caring in a Country Without Guaranteed Paid Leave ArticleJune 20, 2025 LGBTQI+ People Are Working, Healing, and Caring in a Country Without Guaranteed Paid Leave New Center for American Progress survey results show LGBTQI+ Americans are trying to balance work, health, and caregiving, despite gaps in supports such as paid leave. Jun 20, 2025 Molly Weston Williamson
Governors Should Fight for an Economic Agenda To Improve the Lives of Working-Class Residents ReportJune 10, 2025 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. Jun 10, 2025 Karla Walter
Working-Class and College-Educated Voters Want New Progressive Economic Policies ReportJune 3, 2025 Working-Class and College-Educated Voters Want New Progressive Economic Policies Working-class and college-educated voters support progressive economic policies such as a higher minimum wage, stronger unions, higher taxes on the rich, greater public investment in infrastructure, and an expanded social safety net. Jun 3, 2025 Aurelia Glass, David Madland
The Trump Administration Ended Collective Bargaining for 1 Million Federal Workers ArticleMay 22, 2025 The Trump Administration Ended Collective Bargaining for 1 Million Federal Workers The Trump administration claims to speak for American workers, but it took away the collective bargaining rights of 1 in every 14 workers protected by a union contract. May 22, 2025 Aurelia Glass
Union Decline Under Biden Shows the Need for Bolder Labor Law Reforms ArticleApril 23, 2025 Union Decline Under Biden Shows the Need for Bolder Labor Law Reforms Without major policy changes, organizing alone will not be enough to grow union membership. Apr 23, 2025 David Madland
Trump Just Cut the Minimum Wage for Hundreds of Thousands of Private Sector Workers ArticleApril 11, 2025 Trump Just Cut the Minimum Wage for Hundreds of Thousands of Private Sector Workers By tearing up a Biden-era executive order that set a minimum wage for workers on federal contracts, the Trump administration has made some private sector workers vulnerable to pay cuts of up to 25 percent. Apr 11, 2025 Aurelia Glass
States Take Action To Protect Workers Who Need Safe Leave ReportMarch 31, 2025 States Take Action To Protect Workers Who Need Safe Leave States across the country are passing new and expanded laws protecting workers’ right to time off to address needs in relation to violence. Mar 31, 2025 Molly Weston Williamson
How State Spending Can Create a Good Jobs Economy In the NewsMarch 25, 2025 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. Mar 25, 2025 SiX Karla Walter
CAP’s Comment on the Department of Labor’s Proposed Regulation on Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Notice in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings ArticleMarch 24, 2025 CAP’s Comment on the Department of Labor’s Proposed Regulation on Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Notice in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings The Center for American Progress submitted a comment letter to the Department of Labor on the agency’s proposed rule to protect the rising number of workers who are exposed to extreme heat conditions that cause injury, illness, and death across the United States. Mar 24, 2025 Jill Rosenthal, Rosa Barrientos-Ferrer, Kate Petosa
Understanding the Working Class and the Challenges It Faces ArticleMarch 24, 2025 Understanding the Working Class and the Challenges It Faces The working class, a large majority of the workforce and its most racially and ethnically diverse group, faces low pay and higher unemployment. Mar 24, 2025 Aurelia Glass
The Trump Administration Has Made 36 Million Workers Newly Vulnerable to Discrimination and Harassment ArticleFebruary 27, 2025 The Trump Administration Has Made 36 Million Workers Newly Vulnerable to Discrimination and Harassment The Trump administration has put more than 36 million private sector workers at risk of unchecked discrimination and harassment, with hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars now potentially pouring into discriminatory workplaces. Feb 27, 2025 Sara Estep
What State Lawmakers Could Do for Working-Class Americans In the NewsFebruary 5, 2025 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. Feb 5, 2025 Governing Karla Walter, David Madland
Disabled People Deserve to Make a Living Wage In the NewsJanuary 17, 2025 Disabled People Deserve to Make a Living Wage In an op-ed published by DC Journal, Mia Ives-Rublee explains why an archaic U.S. Department of Labor program involving 14(c) certificates is dangerous and should be phased out. Jan 17, 2025 DC Journal Mia Ives-Rublee
CAP Submits Comments Supporting Proposed Section 14(c) Rule To End Subminimum Wages for Disabled People ArticleJanuary 17, 2025 CAP Submits Comments Supporting Proposed Section 14(c) Rule To End Subminimum Wages for Disabled People The Center for American Progress submitted comments in support of the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division’s new proposed rule to phase out Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, ensuring disabled workers are no longer paid subminimum wages. Jan 17, 2025 Mia Ives-Rublee
How To Evaluate Whether Trump Delivers for the Working Class? ArticleJanuary 17, 2025 How To Evaluate Whether Trump Delivers for the Working Class? President-elect Donald Trump won among working-class voters in 2024, but he must deliver on his promises to American workers. Jan 17, 2025 David Madland, Aurelia Glass
8 Ways States Can Build Worker Power ReportJanuary 15, 2025 8 Ways States Can Build Worker Power State lawmakers should act to strengthen workers’ power in the economy. Jan 15, 2025 Sachin Shiva, Karla Walter, David Madland
The State of Paid Sick Time in the U.S. in 2025 Fact SheetJanuary 15, 2025 The State of Paid Sick Time in the U.S. in 2025 This fact sheet provides an overview of paid sick time laws in the United States in 2025. Jan 15, 2025 Molly Weston Williamson
The State of Paid Family and Medical Leave in the U.S. in 2025 Fact SheetJanuary 15, 2025 The State of Paid Family and Medical Leave in the U.S. in 2025 This fact sheet provides an overview of paid family and medical leave laws in the United States in 2025. Jan 15, 2025 Molly Weston Williamson
The State of Paid Time Off in the U.S. in 2025 Fact SheetJanuary 15, 2025 The State of Paid Time Off in the U.S. in 2025 This fact sheet provides an overview of general-use paid time off laws in the United States in 2025. Jan 15, 2025 Molly Weston Williamson
7 Ways State Lawmakers Can Build Public Sector Union Power ReportJanuary 14, 2025 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. Jan 14, 2025 Aurelia Glass, Karla Walter
Too Many Airport Service Workers Earn Low Wages and Benefits ArticleJanuary 13, 2025 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. Jan 13, 2025 Aurelia Glass, Karla Walter
Trump and China: An Unprincipled, Impractical, Reactionary Approach to China Policy ArticleDecember 19, 2024 Trump and China: An Unprincipled, Impractical, Reactionary Approach to China Policy Trump and his China hawk team, through current words and past deeds, risk making America poorer, weaker, and less secure. Dec 19, 2024 Dave Rank, Alan Yu
Trump’s Tariffs Would Raise Prices, Harm U.S. Workers, and Make It Harder To Solve Global Problems ArticleDecember 18, 2024 Trump’s Tariffs Would Raise Prices, Harm U.S. Workers, and Make It Harder To Solve Global Problems Smart tariffs are an important part of industrial policy, but Trump’s tariff agenda is ill-conceived, self-defeating, and harmful to workers. Dec 18, 2024 Ryan Mulholland, Mike Williams
Submitting Comments in Support of DOL Rule To Eliminate Section 14(c), Ending Subminimum Wages for Disabled People ArticleDecember 6, 2024 Submitting Comments in Support of DOL Rule To Eliminate Section 14(c), Ending Subminimum Wages for Disabled People This column provides background on Section 14(c) and guidance on how to submit a comment on the Biden administration’s proposed rule to eliminate subminimum wages for disabled people. Dec 6, 2024 Mia Ives-Rublee, Casey Doherty
Explaining Young Workers’ Support for Unions ArticleOctober 29, 2024 Explaining Young Workers’ Support for Unions Young workers today feel like they're starting from behind. For them, unions may be the answer to getting ahead. Oct 29, 2024 Aurelia Glass
Project 2025 Would Undermine Registered Apprenticeship System and Put Corporations Over Workers ArticleSeptember 16, 2024 Project 2025 Would Undermine Registered Apprenticeship System and Put Corporations Over Workers Instead of weakening apprenticeships, policymakers should invest more in the existing registered apprenticeship system, which benefits workers and employers alike. Sep 16, 2024 Veronica Goodman
Project 2025 Is Already a Reality in Many States ArticleSeptember 12, 2024 Project 2025 Is Already a Reality in Many States Here are examples of how some states are already working to implement the extreme policies outlined in Project 2025. Sep 12, 2024 Ryan Koronowski
Project 2025’s Plan To Gut Checks and Balances Harms American Workers ArticleAugust 12, 2024 Project 2025’s Plan To Gut Checks and Balances Harms American Workers The new authoritarian playbook would devastate American workers in many ways. Aug 12, 2024 Colin Seeberger
Project 2025 Would Cut Access to Overtime Pay ArticleAugust 8, 2024 Project 2025 Would Cut Access to Overtime Pay Project 2025 would make eligibility for overtime—also known as time-and-a-half pay—more confusing for workers to navigate and easier for employers to abuse. Aug 8, 2024 Lily Roberts
AGOA Reauthorization Offers an Opportunity for Expanded Commitments to Development, Labor, and Climate in Sub-Saharan Africa ArticleJuly 24, 2024 AGOA Reauthorization Offers an Opportunity for Expanded Commitments to Development, Labor, and Climate in Sub-Saharan Africa Congress faces a critical opportunity to support workers in the United States and Africa while diversifying supply chains and protecting the climate by authorizing a strengthened African Growth and Opportunity Act next year. Jul 24, 2024 Ryan Mulholland, Doug Molof, Leo Banks, 5 More Anne Griffin, Sadhana Mandala, Trevor Sutton, Mike Williams, Kalina Gibson
Public Officials Should Use Their Bully Pulpit To Support Worker Organizing and Bargaining ReportJuly 22, 2024 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. Jul 22, 2024 Karla Walter, Sachin Shiva
Sen. Ted Cruz’s No Tax on Tips Act Does Little for Low- and Moderate-Wage Workers But Opens Door to Tax Abuse by Wealthy ArticleJuly 17, 2024 Sen. Ted Cruz’s No Tax on Tips Act Does Little for Low- and Moderate-Wage Workers But Opens Door to Tax Abuse by Wealthy This legislation may sound like pro-worker tax reform, but it’s just more of the 2017 tax law’s empty promises for workers and giveaways for the wealthy. Jul 17, 2024 Brendan Duke
Extreme heat kills more people in the U.S. than hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes combined. We need a federal heat standard to protect workers In the NewsJuly 9, 2024 Extreme heat kills more people in the U.S. than hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes combined. We need a federal heat standard to protect workers Jill Rosenthal explains why we need better protections for workers facing extreme heat on the job in an op-ed published in Fortune. Jul 9, 2024 Fortune Jill Rosenthal
Op-ed: Airport service workers demand better support in the workplace. It’s time we listen In the NewsJuly 1, 2024 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. Jul 1, 2024 Crain's New York Business Karla Walter
Project 2025 Would Undo the NLRB’s Progress on Protecting Workers’ Right To Organize ArticleJune 20, 2024 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. Jun 20, 2024 Aurelia Glass
Fact Sheet: Recommendations for the Department of Labor To Take Further Action on AI Fact SheetJune 17, 2024 Fact Sheet: Recommendations for the Department of Labor To Take Further Action on AI This fact sheet offers recommendations for how the Department of Labor can utilize its authorities to address artificial intelligence (AI). Jun 17, 2024 Reed Shaw
Opinion: Baby boomers are retiring. Helping fill those work vacancies is government’s job In the NewsJune 13, 2024 Opinion: Baby boomers are retiring. Helping fill those work vacancies is government’s job Veronica Goodman explains what a reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) would look like and why it’s needed right now in an op-ed published in MarketWatch. Jun 13, 2024 MarketWatch Veronica Goodman
Sectoral Bargaining Can Support High Union Membership ReportMay 30, 2024 Sectoral Bargaining Can Support High Union Membership Sectoral bargaining should be part of a broad set of reforms to rebuild unions in the United States. May 30, 2024 David Madland
The State of Safe Leave ReportMay 28, 2024 The State of Safe Leave U.S. states are increasingly providing safe leave for workers who need time off to deal with the impacts of sexual and domestic violence. May 28, 2024 Molly Weston Williamson
Unions Give Workers a Voice Over How AI Affects Their Jobs ReportMay 16, 2024 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. May 16, 2024 Aurelia Glass
A Closer Look at How Unions Change Workers’ Lives for the Better In the NewsMay 15, 2024 A Closer Look at How Unions Change Workers’ Lives for the Better Aurelia Glass explains in InsideSources why the nation's broken labor laws must be addressed amid the increasing popularity and diversification of workers’ unions in America. May 15, 2024 InsideSources Aurelia Glass
8 Ways the Biden Administration Is Improving the Lives of Service Workers ArticleApril 9, 2024 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. Apr 9, 2024 Karla Walter
K-12 Work-Based Learning Opportunities: A 50-State Scan of 2023 Legislative Action ReportApril 2, 2024 K-12 Work-Based Learning Opportunities: A 50-State Scan of 2023 Legislative Action Policymakers must work alongside educators and industry leaders to develop high-quality, equitable work-based learning models that bring these opportunities to more students. Apr 2, 2024 Tania Otero Martinez, Allie Pearce, Paige Shoemaker DeMio
Tackling Climate Change and Environmental Injustice IssueNovember 1, 2021 Tackling Climate Change and Environmental Injustice We pursue climate action that meets the crisis’s urgency, creates good-quality jobs, benefits disadvantaged communities, and restores U.S. credibility on the global stage.
Strengthening Health IssueNovember 1, 2021 Strengthening Health We work to strengthen public health systems and improve health care coverage, access, and affordability.
Building an Economy for All IssueNovember 1, 2021 Building an Economy for All Economic growth must be built on the foundation of a strong and secure middle class so that all Americans benefit from growth.