Special Report

• Which Side Is Government On?

  David Moberg

  Millions of contract workers whose salaries are ultimately paid by government live in poverty. Uncle Sam should demand high standards, not pay as little as possible.

• Good Jobs, Healthy Cities

  Peter Dreier

  Eight steps city governments can take to promote good jobs.

• Forgotten Corners of the Economy

  Stephen Franklin

  As unemployment rises, the illegal treatment of day laborers only worsens. Where's the government?

• Government Paves the Way

  Paul Sonn

  A decent work agenda for the Obama administration.

• Broken Laws, Unprotected Workers

  Annette Bernhardt

  Rebuilding our economy on the back of illegal working conditions is morally untenable -- and it is bad economics.

• Stuck on the Low Road

  David Bensman

  Deregulation turned truck driving from a good job into a bad one.
  Now, thanks to local organizing and government action, there's a better road.

• Dark and Bitter

  Nancy Cleeland

  Food workers increasingly exist in a legal limbo with no protections for wages, benefits, job security, or life and limb. Why are employers like Hershey off the hook?

• Decent Work

  Robert Kuttner

  How government can get back on the side of promoting good jobs.

• The Good War and the Workers

  Steve Fraser

  World War II defense contracts raised labor standards. Government could use the same leverage in peacetime.