The Labor Center conducts research on unions and worker organizations and how they affect the lives of working people. This research has included the effects of unions on workers’ wages and benefits, how that differs by race, ethnicity and gender, and the role of unions in shaping public policy. The Center analyzes state and local policies that support worker voice on the job and the ability of workers to organize. We also study the effectiveness of organizing and bargaining strategies and methods.
See also our Labor-Managements Partnerships program
June 5, 2024
Practitioner in Residence Jaz Brisack: Building the Inside Organizer School
June 15, 2024
The Supreme Court Ruling in the Starbucks Case Proves the Law Won’t Save Labor
April 23, 2024
Labor Organizer Jane McAlevey on UAW’s Astounding Victory in VW Tennessee & Her Fight Against Cancer
August 29, 2023
California Union Membership and Coverage: 2023 Chartbook
August 29, 2023
Snapshot of California Union Membership: ‘It’s not your grandfather’s union anymore’
The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential impacts of consolidating collective bargaining for California’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) providers from the county level to the state or regional level.
Additional details to accompany the new “Know Your Rights” flyer that will be handed out to all California students seeking a work permit.
What does it take to build a union at the world’s largest coffee chain? Jaz Brisack is trying to get it down to a system.
Jane McAlevey sent this letter to friends, family, collegues and supporters to explain that she has entered hospice care.
The Labor Center sat down with Practitioner in Residence Alex Caputo-Pearl to delve into some of the work he’s completing during his residency, his role during the 2019 UTLA teacher’s strike, and his upcoming book about the teacher’s labor movement in recent years.
May 31, 2018
The Union Effect in California #1: Wages, Benefits, and Use of Public Safety Net Programs
June 7, 2018
The Union Effect in California #2: Gains for Women, Workers of Color, and Immigrants
June 20, 2018
The Union Effect in California #3: A Voice for Workers in Public Policy
Our training partner is Skills to Win which is based at the Berkeley Labor Center and our Organize Every Campus initiative involves training the rank-and-file to build strong campus chapters
“CTA is correct to say this is unprecedented for teachers’ unions,” Jacobs told EdSource. “We have seen success in private sector unions aligning contracts across regions.”
“This is a big deal,” said Ken Jacobs. “Last time Trump was in the White House and had his people in control of the board, they put in a pretty big number of important rulings that narrowed the scope of protected activity and made it harder for workers to organize and collectively bargain.”
Home care workers who provide assistance to elderly and disabled Californians could see more wage equality, according to a recent labor report, by shifting contract negotiations to the state level instead of bargaining individually with California’s 56 individual counties.
“This is a pretty clear reflection of recognition of how important labor unity is going to be in this next four years, when we have a Trump administration that we can expect to be hostile to the interests of working people,” Ken Jacobs said.
