Workers' centers are community-based, generally localized organizations addressing the needs of immigrant and low-wage workers. These workers are routinely exploited and abused on the job, and the growing network of workers' centers is fighting to correct these injustices to achieve economic and political rights. Common goals for workers' centers include educating workers about their rights on the job  and about how to better advocate for those rights, developing leadership skills inlcuding by engaging in self-governance, and providing literacy and skills classes.  Currently, there are hundreds of these organizations around the country.

In addition to the workers' centers, there are foundations supporting workers' rights activities. Links to several of these networks are found at the bottom of this page along with links to a reasonably comprehensive list of workers' centers and additional information.

How do workers' centers operate?

Workers' centers generally provide direct services to workers and also act as advocates for the workers.  Direct services may include programs regarding workers rights, English language, literacy, job skills, etc.  The centers also advocate for their clients and may involve them in that advocacy, raising their consciousness, developing leadership skills, involving them in democratic governance, etc. 

How are workers' centers funded?

According to a recent publication of the Neighborhood Funders Group [NFG], over 60% of the funding for workers' centers comes directly from foundations, about 15% are government funded, and the remaining are funded through other from fundraising activities and dues. This is hardly sufficient. The NFG estimates that half of all centers have annual incomes less than $250,000, and only about 10% have incomes exceeding $500,000.

How can I become involved in workers' centers?  What can attorneys do?

There are many ways to become involved in workers' centers. 

The centers need a full range of legal advice.  They need to set up their organization, achieve non-profit status, etc.  They need legal advice regarding non-solicitations laws that may exist in the community or state.  And the workers need individual advice regarding wage and hour, occupational safety and health, workers' compensation, immigration law, etc. 

As well, the centers need a lawyer referral list of folks who will take referrals of individual cases (either pro bono or perhaps for a fee that can be derived out of a successful prosecution). 

Lawyers and workers' centers can brainstorm about what laws or ordinances could facilitate workers' centers programs, facilitate unions and workers' centers working together, etc., and strategies for legislation, regulation and litigation can be developed.  The NLG L&EC will post information about existing laws and ordinances that others share with us over time.  Click here for links to such information. [link is being developed]

As well the centers can use our help to provide training about legal rights.  Attorneys can directly train workers or train staff at workers' centers in order for them to train workers (train the trainer) about their legal employment law rights (wage and hour, occupational safety and health, workers' compensation, immigration issues, etc.).   The NLG L&EC will post train the trainer material that others share with us over time.  Click here for links to such information.  [link is being developed]

We can assist in providing links to other LOCAL workers' rights organizations such as legal services programs, COSH groups (committees on occupational safety and helath), unions that are organizing workers in a particular industry, etc.  The NLG L&EC will post links to various local organizations that address workers' rights that others share with us over time.  Click here for links to such information.  

Here are some helpful NATIONAL organizations:

Click here for the AFL-CIO American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations
Click here for the National Immigration Law Center (NILC)
Click here for the National Employment Law Project (NELP)
Click here for the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA)

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Where are these workers' centers?

Click here to find a list of workers' centers.

Want more information about workers' centers?

Click here to learn more about workers' centers.  This page includes publications, information about state and local laws, litigation, training, other organizations that can assist workers' centers, etc.

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Links to workers' centers networks:

North American Alliance for Fair Employment [NAFFE]

National Day Laborer Organizing Network [NDLON]

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Click here to view blogs and news articles related to labor and employment law incuding Immigrant Workers' Rights and Workers' Centers.

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