Economic Opportunity
Good jobs sustain our communities, strengthen our economy, and stand at the heart of America's vision of opportunity. But the past three decades have taken our country in the opposite direction, with growing numbers of Americans spending their careers stuck in low-wage, dead-end jobs.
While education and training are part of the solution, policymakers increasingly recognize the need for living wage jobs and accountable economic development, as well as a strong system of public work supports.
Our Economic Justice Project promotes the creation of good jobs and policies to ensure that everyone in our society—especially immigrants, women and people of color—has access to them. At a time when national policy is failing to address the needs of working families, we support coalitions of community groups, progressive unions and legislative leaders trying to address the problem of growing inequality at the federal, state, and local levels.
We support these coalitions with a unique blend of technical assistance, including policy development, economic research, public education, and legal analysis and defense.
The Brennan Center's Economic Justice Project has merged with the National Employment Law Project (NELP). This section was last updated in February 2008; please visit NELP's website for the latest reports and materials. The former Economic Justice Project staff can be reached as follows:
Annette Bernhardt, (212) 274-8444, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Paul Sonn, (212) 274-0594, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Raj Nayak, (212) 274-0579, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Diana Polson, (212) 274-0570, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
G.R. Restaurant, Inc. v. Missouri Department of Labor
Litigation defending the minimum wage for tipped employees in Missouri.
Long Island Care at Home v. Coke
Brennan Center amicus brief asking U.S. Supreme Court to recognize minimum wage rights of home care workers
Congress Boosts Funding for Legal Services Corporation
In tough economic times, the LSC will receive a $40 million increase in funding for FY 2009….
Last night’s State of the Union address was about legacy-building. But President Bush spent only a moment of his hour-long speech on a subject that could be his most enduring legacy of all…
NAFTA Violation: Mexican Government Asks U.S. to Respond to Labor Violations
In a response to a complaint filed by sixteen Latin American workers, BC lawyers and a coalition of workers’ rights organizations urge the U.S. to act.
First Federal Wage Hike in 10 Years
Brennan Center welcomes long overdue minimum wage increase, and calls on Congress to take further action.
Brennan Center Model Living Wage Bill
Model living wage law drafted by the Brennan Center.
Statement of Professor Eileen Appelbaum in Support of New Jersey’s Minimum Wage Increase
Professor Eileen Appelbaum’s statement supporting a proposal by the Brennan Center and allies to raise the minimum wage in New Jersey
Proposed New York City local law that creates a process for the City to consider a restaurant’s employment law violations when deciding whether to grant or renew the restaurant’s operating permit.
MSNBC | Michael Waldman on President’s Speech
The Center’s executive director discusses President Obama’s appearance before Congress with Chris Matthews on Hardball.
The Price of Rushing Regulatory Reform
As Bush leaves office, there’s a rush to issue last-minute regulations for the nation’s executive agencies. As a result, we face the specter of starting 2009 with an ill-considered regulatory regime that will be hard for the next president to alter.