Abstract

Welfare reform has many implications for the labor movement in terms of erosion of public benefits, privatization, mandated employment in low wage jobs or workfare, and other effects. Labor can address these challenges through several strategies including: organizing workfare workers, raising wage standards through living wage campaigns and effective policy advocacy with other progressive organizations, and designing better programs to serve welfare clients. Several examples of labor's involvement in the arena of welfare policy are examined, including workfare organizing, participation in welfare rights coalitions and collaborating with service providers. As Congress considers reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program in 2002, labor's perspectives can be extremely valuable in the policy debate.

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