Biography
Jennifer Sherer (she/her) is director of EPI’s State Worker Power Initiative. Her work focuses on expanding the ability of working people to achieve racial, gender, and economic justice through organizing, collective bargaining, and state and local policy change. She leads the Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN) Worker Power Project, supporting a growing cohort of state and local groups working with labor and grassroots partners to advance state and local policies that expand worker rights and build worker power. Her publications include reports and articles on labor unions, public-sector collective bargaining, “right-to-work” laws, child labor, worker misclassification, wage theft, women’s labor education, labor oral history, and working-class voters, and her work has been cited by numerous local and national media outlets including The Washington Post, The New Yorker, NBC Nightly News, MSNBC, and NPR.
Prior to joining EPI in 2021, Sherer served as director of the University of Iowa Labor Center, leading statewide worker outreach, education, and leadership development programming in close partnership with labor unions and community organizations. While at the Labor Center, Sherer also directed the Iowa Labor History Oral Project, helped found the Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa, co-coordinated the Midwest School for Women Workers, and served on the boards of the Labor and Working Class History Association, Labor Studies Journal, and EARN affiliate Common Good Iowa (formerly the Iowa Policy Project).
Sherer first became active in the labor movement over 20 years ago as a local union officer, a project staff organizer for the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers (UE), and a leader of student anti-sweatshop campaigns while earning her PhD. She has since served as a local labor council officer, volunteered in dozens of issue campaigns, and walked many picket lines.
Education
Ph.D., English, University of Iowa
B.A., English and Neuroscience, Oberlin College
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Will Illinois be next to tackle the problem of ‘captive audience’ meetings?: Rights and freedoms of 22.7 million workers now protected in seven states
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Major strike activity increased by 280% in 2023: Many workers still need policies that protect their right to strike
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Data show anti-union ‘right-to-work’ laws damage state economies: As Michigan’s repeal takes effect, New Hampshire should continue to reject ‘right-to-work’ legislation
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Workers want unions, but the latest data point to obstacles in their path: Private-sector unionization rose by more than a quarter million in 2023, while unionization in state and local governments fell
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Tackling the problem of ‘captive audience’ meetings: How states are stepping up to protect workers’ rights and freedoms
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Massachusetts should resist tech company threats and protect rights of rideshare drivers and all workers: Testimony submitted to the Massachusetts House Joint committee on Labor and Workforce Development on House bill 1848
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Florida legislature proposes dangerous rollback of child labor protections: At least 16 states have introduced bills putting children at risk
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What to know about this summer’s strike activity: What’s spurring the rise in labor actions?
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How state policies that censor race and gender discussions in classrooms maintain economic inequality: Florida has adopted particularly dangerous laws to limit academic freedom
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Testimony in support of SB 170 and SB 171 before the Michigan Senate Labor Committee: Repeal of Michigan laws preempting local labor standards will empower communities to address inequality, boost low wages, and ensure major public investments generate good jobs
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Iowa governor signs one of the most dangerous rollbacks of child labor laws in the country: 14 states have now introduced bills putting children at risk
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Child labor laws are under attack in states across the country: Amid increasing child labor violations, lawmakers must act to strengthen standards
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Why ‘right-to-work’ was always wrong for Michigan: Restoring workers’ rights is key to reversing growing income inequality in Michigan
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Flexible work without exploitation: Reversing tech companies’ state-by-state agenda to unravel workers’ rights and misclassify workers as ‘contractors’ in the gig economy and beyond
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Major strike activity increased nearly 50% in 2022: Upcoming Supreme Court case threatens workers’ ability to strike
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Illinois Workers’ Rights Amendment sets new bar for state worker power policy: Other state legislatures should seize the moment to advance worker, racial, and gender justice in 2023
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Voters turned out for economic justice: A review of key ballot measures from the 2022 midterm elections
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California’s FAST Recovery Act is a victory for fast food workers and a model for state labor policy
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The future of work depends on stopping Amazon’s union busting: Shareholders and policymakers must all play a role in protecting Amazon workers’ rights
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EPI comments on DOL’s proposed updates to the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts regulations
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No more union-busting. It’s time for companies to give their workers what they deserve
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Strong and equitable unemployment insurance systems require broadening the UI tax base
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Much has changed since the first May Day, but building worker power and combating racism and xenophobia remain just as important
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This Workers Memorial Day, honor lives lost by joining workers’ fight for a future that includes safe work
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Unions can reduce the public-sector pay gap: Collective bargaining rights and local government workers
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Testimony to the Washington State Senate Transportation Committee on ESHB 2076: Concerning rights and obligations of transportation network company drivers and transportation network companies
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More worker power is the only sure path to safe work and pandemic recovery
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Few Midwestern states are providing premium pay to essential workers, despite American Rescue Plan funding
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Worker-led state and local policy victories in 2021 showcase potential for an equitable recovery