Labor Unbound? Assessing the Current Surge in Labor Activism

Abstract

Where will the current surge of labor activism lead? To address this question we examine two distinctive currents of labor struggle—one rooted in “new economy” firms and a second in the nation's logistics sector—where post-pandemic conditions have confronted workers with important opportunities and challenges. If the workers’ movement is to make enduring gains, it will need to foster organizational alliances that stretch across distinct sectors of the economy, build support among consumers and the broader public, and challenge culture war rhetoric through appeal to workers’ shared needs.