Workers in the United States won meaningful gains in wages, benefits, and working conditions in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2019, nine states have passed new legislation to raise their current or future minimum wage to $15 or higher—including Nebraska, Missouri, and New York. Five states passed paid family and medical leave legislation over the same period, which has equally important implications for economic mobility, gender equity, and basic dignity. For instance, past research found that 25% of dual-income families that filed for bankruptcy did so after missing two or more weeks of work due to illness or an ill family member. Outside of policy, unionized workers—from the auto industry to the healthcare industry—won increases in pay and benefits through collective bargaining. In one of the most wide-reaching agreements, unionized railroad workers won a 24% increase in wages, more scheduling predictability, and paid sick leave.

Shifting federal priorities and a potential recession threaten that progress. For instance, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, which facilitates dialogue between workers and employers, has been functionally shuttered, and changes to workplace health and safety regulations are possible. Furthermore, the tight labor market that helped buoy workers’ bargaining power after the pandemic may weaken if the U.S. enters a recession.

In response to these trends, broad coalitions that bring together unlikely allies are essential to sustain progress, and funders are uniquely positioned to support nontraditional partnerships. It is well known that coalitions that share resources and ideas are better positioned to surface innovative ideas, build a wider base of public support, and reduce the risk that any one group faces pushback. Put simply, working together is more powerful than working apart. Through our work with funders working in areas from workforce development to workers’ rights to climate, we have witnessed promising examples of how funders have supported coalitions that build new bridges across fields.  Each example looks different: some coalitions span types of actors, while others span sectors. All offer lessons in the new types of coalitions that funders supporting workers need to explore today. We see specific opportunities to deepen collaboration between:

Workers across industries and legal statuses

For too long, workers with different lived experiences—such as informal workers and unionized workers—have been pitted against each other in a zero-sum game. Yet, the core struggles of all workers are fundamentally the same: the fight for a living wage, good benefits, and safe working conditions. Bridging advocacy efforts across different groups of workers can build a larger coalition for change, raise visibility of worker issues, and build greater momentum. The success of campaigns such as the Always Essential campaign, which united a wide range of workers after the pandemic, demonstrate the potential power of this unity.

Those pushing for change inside and outside large employers

With public regulation of working conditions uncertain, this is a moment for the private sector to lead in supporting their employees. At public companies, shareholders can help prompt action through shareholder resolutions. These efforts have historically benefited from collaboration with worker advocacy groups. Among other benefits, advocacy groups can increase public visibility of the issue and ultimately increase pressure for change. For example, the Athena Coalition facilitates collaboration between Amazon shareholders and grassroots worker mobilization.

Workers’ rights advocates and workforce development actors

Workforce development programs and worker organizations often work separately, despite a common goal of all workers having access to quality jobs. Workforce development programs can partner with labor advocates to have more holistic discussions and initiatives that support not only training efforts, but also efforts to ensure workers are supported in safe, quality jobs. For example, the California Workforce Development Board’s High Road Training Partnerships have formally embedded worker voices in decision-making processes, ensuring initiatives both advance worker protections and workforce development objectives, while addressing industry needs. Dalberg is currently administering the County of Los Angeles Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) High Road Training Partnership Fund

Worker advocates and the climate movement

Climate change is driving three major shifts in the labor market: a decline in jobs in climate-vulnerable industries such as agriculture; an increase in demand for workers in the green economy; and an evolution in the nature of work in almost all industries. A just transition will not be successful if workers’ needs are not taken into account. Partnerships with local education institutions, green industry stakeholders, and targeted outreach efforts can support skill-building. For example, a partnership between the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Kern Community College District (KCCD) in California connects students with industry-aligned training, internships, and direct employer engagement, preparing them for careers in renewable energy.

Funders can continue to facilitate these connections by: i) reaching out to peers in other sectors to identify areas for collaboration, ii) investing in spaces for grantees to connect across these divides and identify areas of alignment, iii) funding grantees’ efforts to shape a plan for joint action, and iv) funding nascent and existing collaborative initiatives, including initiatives beyond their primary focus area. Several funder collectives—for example, Families and Workers Fund  and Care for All with Respect and Equity (CARE) Fund—have demonstrated the impact of investment in broad coalitions. Expanding the breadth of these efforts even further, with even more unlikely allies, is essential to protect the progress made and lay the groundwork for the increases in wages, benefits, and protections thousands of workers still urgently.

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