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Rogers, J., and S. Rhodes-Conway. Cities at Work: Progressive Local Policies to Rebuild the Middle Class. COWS, 2014.
This 2014 report is based on the practical experience and struggle of elected officials and advocates from around the country in moving their communities onto the “high road” of shared prosperity, environmental sustainability, and efficient democratic government. Its goal is to arm progressive local elected leaders and advocates with a range of effective policies that, if adopted, would make a significant difference in getting on that high road. They will be able to use better democratic organization to add value, reduce waste, and capture and share locally the great benefits of doing both.
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Mackey, M., and C. Reynolds. Vital Signs 2014 Update: Pursuing Economic Opportunity & Growth in the South Wood County Area. COWS, 2014.
Vital Signs 2014 is a regional economic review for the Incourage Community Foundation. This economic analysis summarizes the most recent data to help focus discussions and decision-making on economic growth and opportunity in South Wood County. From schools to employers, wages to social supports, and employment to homelessness, COWS offers data that provides a shared understanding of where South Wood County is, and where it can improve.
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White, S., and T. Cohen. Preparing Students, Strengthening Communities: A Guide to Climate Resiliency & The Community College. COWS, 2014.
This guide frames a broad public-private conversation on climate resiliency, community health, and economic inclusiveness. Developed by COWS in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges’ Sustainability Education and Economic Development (SEED) Center, Climate Resiliency & The Community College defines climate resilience and its implications for jobs and training; outlines emerging opportunities to engage in related work; and lifts up examples of innovation and best practice across a variety of economic sectors, including health, energy, water, and emergency response.
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Chenven, L., and L. Dresser. Turn up the HEET!. COWS, 2014.DocumentBetween 2008-2014, Washington State has invested more than $11 million dollars in Hospital Employee Education and Training (HEET) projects to advance health care workers’ careers. This report takes a step back from the day-to-day operation and programs and take a broader view of HEET. With the perspective provided by multiple projects and partners on the ground, HEET adds up to much more than a simple count of students trained. At its core, the innovation of HEET is the partnership of labor, management, and education. Most of the impressive educational and student support strategies that have come from HEET are generated, forged, leveraged, and supported in that partnership. HEET has profoundly transformed workers lives. HEET has transformed systems as well, with innovations cascading out to change education and workforce development throughout the state. This report takes stock of the overall meaning and impact of six years of HEET based on review of existing annual evaluations and retrospective interviews with dozens of leaders, stakeholders, and implementers of HEET projects.
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, E., M. Cociña, L. Dresser, and J. Knauss. Raise the Floor Wisconsin - Minimum Wage Edition. COWS, 2014.
There is a crisis of poverty-wage work in Wisconsin. 700,000 Wisconsinites, one of every four workers in the state, earns less than $11.36 per hour – the wage required for a full-time, full-year worker to keep a family of four out of poverty – according to a new report from COWS and the Economic Policy Institute (EPI).
The report helps draw a more complete picture of poverty-wage work in Wisconsin, using federal data to highlight problems in the labor market, the workers that stands to gain from a higher minimum wage, the jobs these workers hold, and the real costs of living that Wisconsinites face. The report also challenges the argument that raising the minimum wage is bad for business.
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Dresser, L. State of Working Wisconsin 2014. COWS, 2014.
The State of Working Wisconsin 2014 uses the best and recent data available on jobs and wages to describe the serious economic challenges that Wisconsin continues to face.
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Rogers, J. The Right’s Kill Shot. Vol. 298, The Nation, 2014, pp. 4-6.
Harris v. Quinn has the highest stakes for labor in April 14, 2014, The Nation.
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DocumentRogers, J. How Harris V. Quinn and Burwell V. Hobby Lobby Turned the First Amendment into a Weapon. The Nation, 2014.
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DocumentRogers, J. “What Do You Think Is The Most Important Single Step Progressives and Democrats Can Take to Regain Support Among White Working Class Americans”. The Democratic Strategist, 2014.