State and Local Labor Policy Working Paper Series

CLJE and Workshop hosted working groups and a convening in the fall of 2025 where academics, advocates, and experts came together to discuss a new generation of innovative ideas for how states and localities can advance worker power. This series of working papers and policy briefs explores these sorts of policies. As our federal labor law faces attacks on multiple fronts, we offer new strategies for state and local governments to strengthen worker voice, improve conditions, and foster organizing. Thank you to the conference attendees and others, listed below, who have helped to shape this series.

For more information, please reach out to clje@law.harvard.edu.

Dec. 19, 2025

Sectoral Models: Expanding Sectoral Standard Setting Under NLRA Preemption: Bringing Workers Together to Build Power and Set Standards in Tripartite Sectoral Models (PDF)

This working paper outlines a framework for expanding sectoral tripartite models under the current NLRA preemption regime.

Acknowledgments

The individuals below contributed their valuable time, expertise, and insights to this project. Even more importantly, many brought to this project the stories and experiences of the countless workers they have represented, who inspired and informed the ideas contained herein.

Please note: The listing of the individuals below only conveys the fact of their participation; it is not an endorsement of the recommendations by them personally or by the institutions with which they are affiliated. Institutions are listed for identification purposes. The individuals are entitled to great credit for making the project possible but are not responsible for the resulting products.

• Adam Shah, Jobs With Justice

• Alex Hertel-Fernandez, Columbia SIPA

• Alex Jacquez, Groundwork Collaborative

• Ali Khawar, FCP LLC

• Alvin Velazquez, Indiana University

• Amy Zachmeyer, New Economy for Working Houston

• Anjali Katta, Harvard Law School

• Benjamin Sachs, Harvard Law School & Center for Labor and a Just Economy

• Caelan Dick, Hayes Dolce, LLP / Columbia University

• Cathy Creighton, Cornell University

• Charles Du

• Charlotte Garden, UMN Law

• Chris Bangert-Drowns, Washington Center for Equitable Growth

• Chris Williams, Workers Law Office

• Cindy Estlund, NYU Law

• Claire Sellers, Hayes Dolce, LLP

• Dan Mauer, Communications Workers of America

• David Madland, Center for American Progress

• David Rolf, Center for State Labor Innovation / SEIU 775 (ret)

• David Weil, HKS / Brandeis University

• Deedee Fitzpatrick, Climate Jobs National Resource Center

• Doug Bloch, Workshop

• Eli Melendrez, Harvard Kennedy School

• Finlay Adamson, Harvard Law School

• HeeWon Brindle-Khym, Jobs To Move America

• Hiba Hafiz, Boston College Law

• Ian Hayes, Hayes Dolce, LLP

• Jennifer Abruzzo, Communications Workers of America

• Jennifer Sherer, Economic Policy Institute

• Jessica Looman, NYU Wagner Labor Initiative

• Jon Hiatt, ILAW Network

• Jordan Cozby, Yale Law School

• Judy Scott, James & Hoffman

• Julie Gutman Dickinson, Bush Gottlieb ALC

• Karen Keiser, State Futures

• Karla Walter, Center for American Progress

• Katchen Locke

• Katelyn Walker Mooney, LIUNA

• Kate Andrias, Columbia Law School

• Kelly Fay Rodriguez, Harvard Kennedy School

• Kyle DeCant, Climate Jobs National Resource Center

• Larry Cohen, Communications Workers of America

• Laura Campos, Nathan Cummings Foundation

• Laura Padin, National Employment Law Project

• Laura Weinrib, Harvard Law School

• Lauren McFerran, The Century Foundation

• Liana Wang, Harvard Law School

• Lara Weinrib, Harvard Law School

• Lynn Rhinehart

• Madeline Neighly, FPWA

• Maneesh Sharma, AFL-CIO

• Marina Multhaup, Barnard, Iglitzin & Lavitt

• Mark Harcourt, Waikato University

• Matt Ginsburg, AFL-CIO

• Matt Holder, Communications Workers of America

• Max Kiefel, Center for Labor and a Just Economy

• Maya Levkovitz, Harvard Law School

• MB Maxwell, Workshop

• Melinda Meng, Harvard Law School

• Mia Dell, AFL-CIO

• Mimi Whittaker, National Employment Law Project

• Nikki Horberg Decter, MA AFL-CIO / Segal Roitman LLP

• Otto Barenberg, Harvard Law School

• Patrick Oakford, Roosevelt Institute

• Paul Sonn, National Employment Law Project

• Pronita Gupta, Workshop

• Raj Nayak, Center for Labor and a Just Economy

• Ryan Doerfler, Harvard Law School

• Sara Steffens, We Build Progress

• Seema Nanda, Center for Labor and a Just Economy and Workshop

• Sharon Block, Harvard Law School & Center for Labor and a Just Economy

• Shaw Mettler, Harvard Law School

• Sophia Leswing, Harvard Law School

• Steve Catanese, SEIU 668

• Tanya Goldman, Workshop

• Ted Parker, Harvard Law School

• Thea Burke, Center for Labor and a Just Economy

• Tiffany Heath, AFL-CIO

• Tom Kochan, MIT

• Tova Wang, Harvard Kennedy School

• Wes McEnany

• Will Dobbs-Allsopp, Democracy Revival Center

• Yoorie Chang, Center for Labor and a Just Economy