Reforming Unemployment Insurance: Stabilizing a System in Crisis and Laying the Foundation for Equity

The time is ripe for a fundamental worker-led reimagining of the Unemployment Insurance system.

4.7 Million Workers Face Premature Cutoff of Pandemic Unemployment Programs

Three-quarters of people receiving unemployment in 22 states will be left with no jobless aid at all.

Forced Arbitration Helped Employers Who Committed Wage Theft Pocket $9.2 Billion in 2019 From Workers in Low-Paid Jobs

By imposing forced arbitration, employers thwarted workers’ efforts to recover billions in stolen wages.

In Support New York Laborers Local 79’s Campaign to Challenge Labor Broker Practices

On April 19, 2021, Han Lu, Laura Padin, and Maya Pinto testified before the NYC Council in support of greater regulation, reporting, and transparency of body shops.

Forced Arbitration Helped Employers Who Committed Wage Theft Pocket $40 Million Owed to Maine Workers in 2019

The legislature must pass a whistleblower enforcement bill to ensure that workers can rely on the protections of Maine’s employment laws.

Slashing Unemployment Benefit Weeks on Jobless Rates Hurts Workers of Color

States can learn from the last recession and the current unemployment crisis by restructuring their UI system to better support unemployed workers of color.

Statement on the Essential Role of Immigrant Workers

Pre-Apprenticeship: Advancing Equity & Access to Good Careers

This report adds to the body of research on the value and role of pre-apprenticeship and concludes with a summary of promising practices and reform recommendations.

On Greater Regulation of “Body Shops” That Criminalize Workers in New York City

On April 19, 2021, Han Lu, Laura Padin, and Mayo Pinto testified before the NYC Council on unregulated labor brokers that target New Yorkers under parole supervision.

AB 110: Deepening Structural Racism and the Vulnerability of Incarcerated Californians

NELP opposes AB 110, a bill that would deepen structural racism and vulnerability of incarcerated Californians to wrongful denial of unemployment benefits.