Labor Relations Policies that Work for Workers: Federal Policy Recommendations
Policies protecting collective bargaining, including for workers employed under non-standard work arrangements (NSWAs) such as temporary, contract, seasonal, and gig positions, are essential to support workers and their families. Because women, and particularly women of color, are overrepresented in low-wage jobs that lack essential workplace protections, enforceable mandates can reduce racial, gender, and economic inequities. Better labor policies correlate not only to higher median household income and GDP per capita, but also to lower rates of poverty, infant mortality, and food insecurity. Multiple Oxfam research projects [Inequality, Made in America; Best States to Work Index; Where Hard Work Doesn’t Pay Off; U.S. Care Policy Scorecard] show that policymakers can reduce inequality by enacting strong labor policies centered on people, which will create an inclusive economy that will work for all.