from the DataCenter's Economic Justice Program, Spring/Summer 2002

Contingent Worker Advocates Come Together

An historic gathering of unions, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, activists, academics and policy advocates met at the University of California, Berkeley on June 21 to discuss the growth of contingent work in California and share information about organizing and policy efforts on behalf of contingent workers' rights. In addition to organized labor, organizers of immigrant workers, day laborers, domestic workers, youth and people of color participated in the meeting.

California has nearly two million workers employed in some form of "nonstandard work," representing between 15-20% of all contingent workers in the country. Contingent workers include part-time, temporary, day labor, independent contracting or on-call workers.

The Meeting on Contingent Work was convened to explore ways that groups engaged in contingent work campaigns can begin to share information and possibly collaborate on campaigns. The meeting provided an overview on state legislation, reports on local organizing efforts and public sector contingent work issues. Participants discussed how to coordinate cross-cutting themes, message development, networking and mutual support actions. The Center on Policy Initiatives in conjunction with the University of California, Berkeley's Center on Labor Research and Education sponsored the meeting. Working Partnerships USA, the DataCenter and Center for a Changing Workforce were co-conveners.

The meeting grew out of a series of strategic planning meetings held over the past year by the convening organizations to define the problem, assemble information and construct alternatives that can inform effective direct action and policy campaigns at the local and state levels. The convening organizations also collaborated on message development aimed at building a broad-based contingent worker rights movement with popular support.

The Meeting on Contingent Work provided an important opportunity for groups to learn about each others' concerns, work and strategies, and laid the basis for collaboration between organized labor and nonstandard worker rights and community-based groups.

For further information or to get involved, contact Center on Policy Initiatives.