In an earlier era, a vibrant labor movement nurtured a broad middle. But half-a-century ago, under severe attack from corporations,
Worker Power
The power of organized labor has brought us weekends, sick leave, and the minimum wage. However, worker power has decreased during decades of attacks by corporate interests and neglect by the federal government. Increasing the strength of workers is vital to making the economy work for everyone.
Worker Power
The power of organized labor has brought us weekends, sick leave, and the minimum wage. However, worker power has decreased during decades of attacks by corporate interests and neglect by the federal government. Increasing the strength of workers is vital to making the economy work for everyone.
Latest Articles
My name is Janet Bauer, Director of Policy Research at the Oregon Center for Public Policy. I respectfully submit this
A little over a year ago, when much of the economy remained shut due to the Covid pandemic, the U.S.
Many workers have had enough with poor quality jobs. A record number of workers quit their jobs this past August,
In the latest episode of Policy for the People, we explore the problem of poor quality jobs — jobs that
On the eve of the pandemic, at a time when Oregon enjoyed one of the strongest job markets on record,
Executive summary On the eve of the pandemic, a time when the nation was experiencing the longest economic boom on
Undocumented workers in Oregon are more likely than not to perform work considered essential during the pandemic, yet they have
The recession triggered by the COVID-19 crisis has hammered Oregon’s undocumented workers — workers who more likely than not perform
Latest Podcasts

Oregon Child Care Crisis: How ERDC Running Out of Funds Could Hurt 12,000 Families
Listen to prior episodes of the show Follow Policy for the People on your favorite podcast app Transcript
February 12, 2026

Underpaid, Overworked, and Essential: Oregon’s Long-Term Care Crisis
In this episode, we examine the crisis in Oregon’s system of long-term care. Demand for long-term care is rising as
January 8, 2026

Income Inequality in Oregon: What Does the Latest Data Show?
Income inequality in Oregon remains vast, but history shows this is not inevitable.
December 11, 2025

A new dawn for Oregon’s labor movement?
Years from now, we may look back at 2022 as the year when the labor movement began its resurgence, ushering