Economic Policy Institute 130d ago

The Trump administration continues to brazenly attack workers and their unions, undermining federal labor laws and emboldening corporate union busters. Amid this escalating US worker rights crisis, states across the country are stepping up to strengthen threatened labor standards, level the playing field for unionizing workers, and expand pathways to collective bargaining. Jennifer Sherer, EPI's Director of the State Worker Power Initiative and Deputy Director of EARN, is joined by Celine McNicholas, EPI Director of Policy & Government affairs; Levi Goren, Director of Research and Education Policy at The Commonwealth Institute; Angel Pye, Executive Board Member of SEIU Local 512 Home Care Chapter in Virginia; Ali Smith, Senior Project Coordinator at Policy Matters Ohio; Isbel Alvarado, Case Manager and Community Organizer at the Central Ohio Worker Center; Kaitie Dong, Senior Policy Analyst at the Washington State Budget and Policy Center; and Edgar Franks from Los Familias Unidas. Originally held Thursday, February 19, 2026. Resources: Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN) network directory - https://earn.us/directory/ EPI Holding the Line series - https://www.epi.org/holding-the-line Federal Policy Watch - https://www.epi.org/policywatch/ Unions aren't just good for workers—they also benefit communities and democracy - https://www.epi.org/publication/unions-arent-just-good-for-workers-they-also-benefit-communities-and-democracy/ Workers' resolve drives unionization in 2025 - https://www.epi.org/publication/workers-resolve-drives-increase-in-unionization-in-2025/ The Commonwealth Institute - https://thecommonwealthinstitute.org/ SEIU Local 512 Home Care Chapter - https://www.seiuva.org/home-care/ Policy Matters Ohio - https://policymattersohio.org/ Central Ohio Worker Center - https://centralohioworkercenter.org/ Washington State Budget and Policy Center - https://budgetandpolicy.org/ Familias Unidas por la Jucticia - https://familiasunidasjusticia.com/ Stronger collective bargaining laws will benefit all Virginians - https://www.epi.org/publication/stronger-collective-bargaining-laws-will-benefit-all-virginians/ Building a more equitable Commonwealth: The case for collective bargaining rights for Virginia state employees - https://thecommonwealthinstitute.org/tci_research/building-a-more-equitable-commonwealth-the-case-for-collective-bargaining-rights-for-virginia-state-employees/ Specific Holding the Line: State solutions action plans for Rights to unionize and collectively bargain - https://www.epi.org/publication/rights-to-unionize-and-collectively-bargain-state-solutions-to-the-u-s-worker-rights-crisis/ Minimum wage - https://www.epi.org/publication/minimum-wage-state-solutions-to-the-u-s-worker-rights-crisis/ Overtime pay - https://www.epi.org/publication/overtime-pay-state-solutions-to-the-u-s-worker-rights-crisis-overtime-pay/ Wage payment - https://www.epi.org/publication/wage-payment-state-solutions-to-the-u-s-worker-rights-crisis/ Child labor - https://www.epi.org/publication/child-labor-standards-state-solutions-to-the-u-s-worker-rights-crisis/ Workplace nondiscrimination protections - https://www.epi.org/publication/workplace-nondiscrimination-protections-state-solutions-to-the-u-s-worker-rights-crisis/ Unemployment insurance - https://www.epi.org/publication/unemployment-insurance-state-solutions-to-the-u-s-worker-rights-crisis/ Workplace health and safety standards - https://www.epi.org/publication/workplace-health-and-safety-standards-state-solutions-to-the-u-s-worker-rights-crisis/ EARN - https://earn.us From the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, DC. www.epi.org