Seizing the Moment on Worker Rights: A Toolkit for Organizers and Practitioners

Today’s politicized environment poses unique challenges for worker rights advocates. With Congress often divided, and many state and local governments as well, the path to improving worker rights through legislation is narrow. Nonetheless, we have seen some remarkable progress on worker rights over the last few years through executive action. Leveraging executive action, however, is not a straightforward and easily discernible path for grassroots activists and organizations interested in advancing worker rights and job quality. 

Workshop’s “Toolkit: An Organizer’s Guide to Executive Action” authored by Executive Director Mary Beth Maxwell, demystifies and democratizes the policy-making process by sharing lessons learned during her time in federal government. Toolkit offers a blueprint for advocates inside and outside on how they can collaborate to build an economy that works for all and, in the process, rebuild a healthy democracy.

This webinar — which took place on September 4, 2024 — features a panel of experienced public servants and organizers, who dive into the lessons and stories from Toolkit and provide guidance to advocates and organizers striving to advance worker rights. Our speakers include:

• Gail Haywood, Domestic Worker Leader

• Cecilia Muñoz, Senior Advisor, New America; Former Director, Domestic Policy Council

• David Weil, Professor, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University;  Former Administrator, Wage and Hour Division, US Department of Labor

• Jonathan Njus, Director of Family Economic Security and Program Lead for Expanding Equity, W.K. Kellogg Foundation; Former Senior Policy Advisor, Domestic Policy Council and Senior Policy Advisor, U.S. Department of Labor

• Haeyoung Yoon, Vice President, Policy and Advocacy, National Domestic Workers Alliance; Former Member, COVID-19 Equity Task Force

• Mary Beth Maxwell, Executive Director, Workshop; Former Senior Advisor, Acting Administrator of Wage and Hour Division, and Acting Assistant Secretary for Policy at the US Department of Labor

• Eleanor Mueller (moderator), Economics Reporter, Politico

For more information about this event, including a transcript, speaker bios, and additional resources, visit: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/seizing-the-moment-on-worker-rights-a-toolkit-for-organizers-and-practitioners/

To download “Toolkit: An Organizer’s Guide to Executive Action,” visit: https://www.workshop1933.org/toolkit

For highlights from this discussion, subscribe to EOP’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AspenEOP

Join us October 10 on Zoom for our next event, “A Hidden Workforce: Prison Labor, Human Rights, and the Legacy of Slavery.” Click here to RSVP: https://aspeninstitute.zoom.us/webinar/register/6517255601925/WN__24hSIjGQbizD5K_QINy2g