Author Archives: Rebekah Entralgo

Farm workers push for congressional action during lame duck session

A delegation of farm workers lobbied Congress ahead of the holiday weekend to pass legislation that would provide a pathway to citizenship for thousands of workers who provide the food for our tables.

Farm workers mobilized in Washington, DC the week before Thanksgiving to push lawmakers to pass the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, a compromise bill that would help secure America’s food supply and put some of the nation’s most essential workers on a path to citizenship. Continue reading

Pressure mounts on Biden to take action on student loan debt

Less than 24 hours after news broke that President Biden is seriously considering canceling tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt, organizers mobilized. Continue reading

Addressing racial inequality in paid leave policy

While efforts to secure paid leave benefits are stalled at the federal level, states and cities are moving forward. In the latest victory, the District of Columbia has granted hundreds of thousands of private-sector workers 12 weeks of paid time off, up from a maximum of eight weeks. Continue reading

Unions can prevent workplace disasters

A trillion-dollar company like Amazon, with a centi-billionaire CEO, shouldn’t have warehouses that collapse.

The fight for justice and accountability continues for six Amazon employees who were killed when a warehouse roof collapsed during a tornado last December. Continue reading

After Amazon tragedy, workers come together to demand safe working conditions

“Amazon was supposed to keep them safe. They didn’t do that. How does a company worth over $1 trillion let this happen?”

The fight for justice and accountability continues for six Amazon employees who were killed when a warehouse roof collapsed during a tornado in December. Continue reading

NYC taxi drivers took on predatory lenders—and won

This worker-driven organizing victory could pave the way for future debt relief.

After a two-week hunger strike and two months of sit-ins, dozens of taxi drivers in New York City hosted a long-awaited celebration outside City Hall on November 10. Continue reading

Rediscovering the power of unions

Better wages and health care may always face headwinds in Washington, but unions are striking to win them directly.

It was called “Striketober.” While politicians in Washington bickered over infrastructure, jobs, and the social safety net, unionized workers across the heartland went on strike to get their fair share directly. Continue reading

Big Pharma corporate lobby vs. everyday Americans

Organizers take to the streets to call on Big Pharma to halt its assault on popular reforms to lower prescription drug prices.

Armed with a “STOP PHARMA GREED” banner and a large, menacing image of a greedy industry executive, member leaders from People’s Action rallied in front of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Washington, D.C., headquarters last week to protest drug companies’ relentless pursuit of profits at the expense of everyday people. Continue reading

Unemployment insurance isn’t holding back the economy, inequality is.

Ending enhanced unemployment benefits didn’t get people back to work. It just made them poorer.

An estimated 9 million Americans got the rug pulled out from under them over Labor Day weekend as enhanced pandemic federal unemployment benefits expired, leaving millions of families in the lurch during a record-breaking season for COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Continue reading

Advocates call on Congress to #SealTheDeal for care, climate, and justice

The next few months will be crucial to securing the big, bold policy wins needed to build a more equitable, sustainable country for all.

With members of Congress back home for the summer recess, hundreds of activists took to the streets in communities across the country for a #SealTheDeal day of action. Their demand? That Congress fights for every dollar in the $3.5 trillion recovery package and protects investments in climate solutions, care, jobs, and justice. Continue reading

Two years after the largest workplace raid in U.S. history, a path forward for undocumented workers

Democrats just passed a budget framework that could make millions of immigrant workers less vulnerable to exploitation.

Immigration agents arrested over 600 undocumented workers at a poultry plant in Jackson, Mississippi, two years ago in what remains the largest workplace raid in U.S. history. Continue reading

The eviction crisis is a race and gender wage gap issue

Rep. Cori Bush delivered a big win for millions of renters during a pandemic. But inequalities that make Black women particularly vulnerable to evictions will continue until they are paid their fair share.

For Congresswoman Cori Bush (D-MO), sleeping away from the comfort of a bed is an unfortunately familiar feeling. Years ago, Bush had to live out of her car for a time with her two young children, all while working a full-time job. Continue reading

Infrastructure must include the care economy

This crisis of care could be prevented if Congress were to take bold action to fund human infrastructure.

When my mother was hired as a home health aide for a young boy living with disabilities, she enjoyed it so much that she overlooked the reality that the job paid a low hourly wage with no benefits. Continue reading

Pandemic recovery must include care worker protections

‘Seeing as we are the ones who are supposed to be taking care of people, why is it that we are the least cared about?’

Between daycare closures, school closures, and nursing homes becoming hotbeds for the deadly virus, the COVID-19 pandemic turned millions of people into caregivers overnight. Continue reading

Employers: If you want workers, pay a living wage

It’s not that people don’t want to work—it’s that they don’t want to work for so little.

The sudden shift from “we love our essential workers” to “they’re living off the government dole” seemingly happened overnight. Continue reading

Care advocates celebrate big wins in American families plan

Their mantra? Celebrate today. Organize tomorrow.

“No one should have to choose between a job and a paycheck or taking care of themselves and their loved ones, a parent, spouse, a child.” Continue reading

Migrant women farmworkers: An invisible essential labor force

The Biden administration must address the industry’s long-standing gender discrimination and systemic inequalities, which have become even more severe during the pandemic.

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been an outpouring of public support for essential workers. But this national discourse has largely excluded migrant women farmworkers, despite their vital role in keeping food on American families’ tables. Continue reading

Biden’s jobs plan will help seniors get care at home

By supporting quality home care, the plan will help seniors avoid dangerous, for-profit nursing facilities.

As the nation’s population ages, the need for more care workers and safer, more affordable care options is urgent. Continue reading

Amazon union vote shows why we need the PRO Act

In the face of intimidation by one of the largest companies in the world, Alabama workers bravely spoke out about the need for greater labor protections.

Following one of the most high-profile union votes in history, workers at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama—led by Black organizers—ultimately rejected efforts to form a union by 71 percent, according to the National Labor Relations Board. Continue reading