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. The former Economic Justice Project staff can be reached as follows:
Annette Bernhardt, (212) 274-8444,
Paul Sonn, (212) 274-0594,
Raj Nayak, (212) 274-0579,
Diana Polson, (212) 274-0570,
This section was last updated in February 2008. Please visit the National Employment Law Project for the latest reports and materials.
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
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.
Missouri Court Rejects Attempt to Block Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers
A Missouri circuit court rejected an attempt to block an increase in the state’s minimum wage for tipped workers.
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.
Responsible Restaurant Act Fact Sheet
Fact sheet explaining the Responsible Restaurant Act, a bill proposed in the New York City Council.