Workers are struggling to make ends meet in this tough economy. The Partnership is supporting efforts at the local and federal levels to create pathways to living wage jobs and career opportunities, and to dismantle barriers that prevent workers from joining unions. Together with our allies, we are striving to give workers a voice in the workplace and make the economy work for everyone again.

At the core of the Partnership’s work is a sense of responsibility to future generations and the current workforce to ensure that the jobs being created in the nation’s metro areas pay family-supporting wages and provide health care and other benefits. As our economy continues to shift, it is vital to our society that we strengthen and expand the middle class by ensuring that hard-working people are able to support themselves and their families, and build toward a better life.

Labor unions are critical partners in the social justice movement. The Partnership’s broad coalitions provide a way for union members to engage in broader community issues, complementing their unions’ workplace organizing.

Government also has a critical role to play in encouraging responsible business practices and holding up those businesses as models. Cities and agencies should embrace responsible or best value contracting, no longer reflexively selecting the low-bid contractor, but selecting the best quality bid. Public money should be used for the public good, and businesses benefitting from that money should be required to provide decent, family-supporting jobs. In addition to improving the lives of workers, this approach to development improves the tax base of cities.

We are adding up our large body of local work to build a powerful national movement for change. As our nation invests in the new green economy and addresses aging infrastructure and urban revitalization, we are well-positioned to inform the national debate and hold local projects to high standards of accountability.