Working America
Political organizing arm of the AFL–CIO
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Working America is the political organizing arm of the AFL–CIO.[2] Its membership is made up of non-union individuals.[3][4] It is the largest non-employer based affiliate union and workers' group in the United States, with a self-reported membership of 5 million individuals.[1] Working America advocates for progressive policy issues. The organization recruits people in working-class neighborhoods on their doorsteps in an effort to persuade them to support labor-backed candidates at election time.[5][6][7]
| |
| Founded | 2003 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Location | |
| Members | 5 million[1] |
Key people | Matt Morrison, executive director |
| Affiliations | AFL–CIO |
| Website | workingamerica |
Overview
The organization started as a two-state pilot project of the AFL–CIO in 2003.[8] The organization was launched nationally that fall, as a national directly affiliated labor union that would "not be employment-based or workplace-based in any way." Instead, it was to be a "neighborhood-based, membership organization affiliated with the labor movement... [that] will give working Americans who do not belong to unions the platform and the tools to join together and have their voices heard... canvassers will go door-to-door to educate, recruit members, and mobilize working families around important national, state, and local issues such as jobs, health care, and education".[9] The organization's founding director was Karen Nussbaum.
In October 2005, the organization announced that it had enrolled 1 million members.[10] It reported a membership of 2.5 million by the fall of 2008.[11] As of October 2024, they report a membership of 5 million.[1]
Campaigns
Working America undertook its first nationwide activities in the 2004 U.S. presidential election. It organized a "Show Us The Jobs" bus tour of workers throughout the Midwest. The tour was critical of President George W. Bush's policies.[12][13]
Working America was active in the 2006 midterm congressional elections.[14][15] Working America activists were credited by the press and Democrats for helping to deliver federal and state victories in Ohio and Pennsylvania.[16]
In 2007, Working America began a campaign to build support for universal health care. The group established a "Health Care Hustle" website on which consumers could post stories about how lack of health insurance or under-insurance led to significant financial, health or other problems. Working America promised to launch a campaign against the organization or corporation which received the most "horror stories." The effort built upon a previous campaign by Working America in mid-2006 in which the organization asked the public to submit stories about "bad bosses."[17]
In 2015, Working America led a "massive get-out-the-vote effort" to elect Democrat Jack Conway as Governor of Kentucky. Conway was defeated by Republican Matt Bevin.[18][19]
Policy positions
Working America opposes social security privatization.[20] It supports the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion.[21] The organization advocates for an increased minimum wage and universal health care.[5]
