EARN Notice: October 2023

EARN Notice
A monthly newsletter from the Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN)


** EARN Notice October 2023
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EARNCon 2023 in Detroit is two weeks behind us, yet I’m still processing the many opportunities this year’s conference provided to learn, connect, and act.

From the opening plenary featuring ambitious Michigan legislative campaigns ([link removed]) to early mornings on the picket line with striking Blue Cross Blue Shield workers ([link removed]) , to UAW President Shawn Fain’s rousing address ([link removed]) , EARNCon 2023 raised BIG questions for our work ahead.
* How will we build the collective power necessary to ensure jobs of the future will be good jobs?

* Will we achieve a just, inclusive transition to clean energy, or watch low-road employers drive a race to the bottom in emerging sectors of the “green” economy?
* Will the next decade of major infrastructure investments create living wage union jobs for new generations of historically excluded Black, brown, immigrant, and women workers?
* How will we create and fund the childcare, health care, and public education infrastructure that children, families, workers, and employers across our economy need and deserve?

On the final day of EARNCon 2023, Heather Boushey, member of the White House Council of Economic Advisors, shared a dazzling overview ([link removed]) of how historic federal investments in infrastructure, energy, broadband, and manufacturing are already reshaping labor markets across the country. These investments present tremendous opportunities to accelerate goals EARN groups and partners have long fought for—good jobs, worker power, a strong public sector, and progress on racial, gender, and climate justice.

Of course, none of these outcomes will be automatic without smart, strategic state and local implementation centered on empowering and educating workers. As EPI’s Josh Bivens put it recently, the “industrial policy revolution has begun” ([link removed]) – but for most workers, rebalancing power across the economy will require a concomitant worker power revolution.

As we learned from Wilhelmenia Hardy-Dance’s inspiring story of unionizing an electric bus factory in Georgia ([link removed]) , even industries receiving massive federal investments won’t voluntarily create good jobs or advance equity. Winning those outcomes will require persistent organizing to leverage pro-worker policies embedded in federal funds, state and local policies to raise labor standards, and labor and community coalitions powerful enough to hold private actors accountable to public interests.

The opportunities and challenges ahead are already placing the expertise of EARN groups in high demand and pushing many of us to expand our work to reach new geographies and include new partners. We’re grateful so many of you are ready to join us to meet this moment!

In solidarity,

Jen Sherer
Director, State Worker Power Initiative


** Publications
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[link removed]
Maine Center for Economic Policy: Hollywood Strike Highlights Unfairness of Film Tax Subsidies ([link removed]) (October 3, 2023)

COWS High Road Strategy Center: Can’t Survive on $7.25: Higher Minimum Wages for Working Wisconsin ([link removed]) (October 23, 2023)

[link removed]

Florida Policy Institute: Fast Facts: HB 49 Would Undo Decades of Child Labor Protections in Florida ([link removed]) (October 23, 2023)

Every Texan: United Auto Workers is Making History: Texans Take Note ([link removed]) (October 9, 2023)


** EARN State of Working X and Labor Day Reports
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Many EARN groups produced State of Working X reports or labor day products describing labor market conditions and key issues for workers in their states. You can view all these reports here ([link removed]) .


** Upcoming Events
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We want to share a training opportunity on financial fraud from our partners at the Amalgamated Bank. The training takes place on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, from 2 pm ET – 3 pm ET. Interested individuals should register ([link removed]) for the event in advance to receive the Zoom link and other training information.
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