Model and Strategy
The impact of the Covid-19 crisis on low-wage essential workers has created a real opportunity to bring about transformational change for working families and build a fair economy. United for Respect seeks to improve the economic stability and working conditions for people in low-wage retail jobs in the U.S. while building the leadership and power of those most impacted by economic inequities - women and BlPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) people. Our goals are to:
• Elevate the voices and increase the political power of people working in low-wage jobs to help shift the public consensus around jobs and economic stability.
• Secure corporate and public policy change that improves essential workers’ lives, including a fair workweek; paid family, medical and disability leave; sexual harassment; paid sick time; minimum wage; health care; expansion of affordable child care.
• Build a strong, multiracial national network of people working in low-wage retail jobs that contributes to a robust ecosystem of aligned worker, racial, economic, and gender justice groups organizing together for a voice for working people.
Impact
• Transform the lives of retail workers through an expanded supportive multiracial, multi-generational national network engaging hundreds of thousands of workers through our online-to-offline engagement strategy.
• Increase the influence of essential workers by elevating the voice of our leaders who speak up for industry-wide solutions and standards for health and safety and economic stability for working families.
• Change the makeup of corporate boards, essential worker task forces, and other worker councils with the appointment of people in low-wage hourly jobs, especially women and BIPOC workers.
• Pass and enforce public and corporate policies that improve job quality and economic security for working families, such as comprehensive paid leave, affordable health care, fair and predictable scheduling, childcare provisions, and other safety net reforms.
• Run leader-led state advocacy campaigns to win fair workweek and related legislation securing greater economic stability for working families.
• Build a diverse collaborative network of allied stakeholders, including community organizations, labor unions, legal and policy experts, to promote a fair and just economy.
• Shape the public narrative on jobs and the economy by amplifying the voices of our leaders through social and earned media, especially women and BIPOC workers.
Leadership
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Andrea Dehlendorf
Executive Director
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Terrysa Guerra
Political Director