Jobs Day Preview: Worker Power

Washington, D.C. — In anticipation of tomorrow’s Jobs Report, Mike Mitchell, director of policy and research at Groundwork Collaborative, shared the following statement:

“The rise of labor strikes across the country is truly inspiring, as workers use their collective voices to set wages and working conditions on their own terms. But as tomorrow’s job numbers will demonstrate, this historic leverage for workers must be paired with millions of additional good jobs and sustained investments in climate resilience, child care, and other critical benefits to ensure a full economic recovery in which every worker can thrive.”

To speak to Mike Mitchell about the October Jobs Report and its impact on worker power, email press@groundworkcollaborative.org

BACKGROUND

• We are still five million jobs down since the start of the pandemic. Many workers have yet to return to the labor market because of the health risks of COVID-19, increased caregiving burdens at home, and a tight labor market that has given workers more leverage to fight for long-overdue change.
• Tens of thousands of workers have gone on strike to demand better wages, better working conditions, and more benefits. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that some 4.3 million people quit their jobs in just the month of August, citing low pay, too few hours, and inadequate workplace protections.
• But it remains an open question whether “Striketober” reflects a permanent rebalancing of power. While wages have moved upward for the first time in decades, the historic labor unrest cannot make up for nearly 40 years of growing economic inequality and unchecked corporate power, alongside decades of conservative attacks on unionization.
• We cannot fully recover until all workers feel safe and secure on the job. By investing in paid leave, caregiving, climate, and other public resources, we can meet the immediate needs of workers and build a stronger, more equitable economy for all of us.

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Groundwork Collaborative: The Groundwork Collaborative’s mission is to advance an economic vision for strong, broadly shared prosperity and true opportunity for all.