Working America is the political organizing arm of the AFL–CIO.[3] Its membership is made up of non-union individuals.[1] It is the largest non-union workers' group in the United States, with a self-reported membership of 3.2 million individuals.[2] Working America advocates for progressive policy issues. The organization recruits people in working-class neighborhoods on their doorsteps in an effort to persuade them to support labor-backed candidates at election time.[4][5]
Overview
The organization started as a two-state pilot project of the AFL–CIO in 2003.[6] The organization was launched nationally that fall. The organization's founding director was Karen Nussbaum.
In October 2005, the organization announced that it had enrolled 1 million members.[7] It reported a membership of 2.5 million by the fall of 2008.[8]
Campaigns
Working America undertook its first nationwide activities in the 2004 U.S. presidential election. It organized a "Show Us The Jobs" bus tour of workers throughout the Midwest. The tour was critical of President George W. Bush's policies.[9][10]
Senator Russ Feingold signing up as a member of Working America on August 4, 2008
In 2007, Working America began a campaign to build support for universal health care. The group established a "Health Care Hustle" website on which consumers could post stories about how lack of health insurance or under-insurance led to significant financial, health or other problems. Working America promised to launch a campaign against the organization or corporation which received the most "horror stories." The effort built upon a previous campaign by Working America in mid-2006 in which the organization asked the public to submit stories about "bad bosses."[13]
Working America opposes social security privatization.[2] It supports the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion.[15] The organization advocates for an increased minimum wage and universal health care.[4]
