Dignity of Work Institute

The New GOP Bill Will Gouge Workers—And to Them, That’s Nothing New We asked workers about what makes their lives hard. The universal answer: greedy corporations—and a government that does nothing to stop them.

Sen. Sherrod Brown: The GOP budget is a Frankenstein’s monster of taxpayer handouts to corporations and the wealthy, paid for by the working class. It’s rigging the system even more and making it harder for working people to get ahead.

“On a dark background, bold yellow text says: ‘AMERICAN WORKERS AGREE: THEY’RE JUST BEING GREEDY.’ At the bottom is the logo for The Dignity of Work Institute.”

Workers are tired of being squeezed while billion-dollar corporations get richer and politicians look the other way. It’s greed. Plain and simple.

Prices keep rising. Profits keep climbing. Wages barely budge. We need leaders who fight for workers, not just their corporate donors.

Corporate greed means working people pay more while CEOs and the politicians who enable them cash bigger checks.

“Bold yellow text on a dark background reads: ‘WE DON’T HAVE CHOICES. THEY DO.’ Below this, a taped white note shows a quote: ‘They know people need to survive off certain things… and companies know they can continue to raise prices because people need this stuff and they're gonna have to pay it, regardless of if they're living in a 1-bedroom shack or living in a mansion, you're still gonna have to pay for it because you need it.’ — Delivery Driver in Texas.”

“They know people need to survive off certain things… and companies know they can continue to raise prices… regardless of if they're living in a 1-bedroom shack or living in a mansion, you're still gonna have to pay for it because you need it.” — TX Delivery Driver

The Senate just passed a bill that hands more tax dollars to corporations and cuts health care—all while ignoring what workers really need. Sen. Sherrod Brown tells the truth about what workers face in today’s economy.

Diverse focus groups surface pervasive economic pessimism Former Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said he hopes the research from his new pro-worker group spurs policymakers to push back more on corporations.

“Things are tough.” Workers across America told us that the economy is getting worse - rising costs and corporate greed are leaving them behind. Read more about what they say needs to change:

Opinion | Sherrod Brown: Trump’s Tariffs Do Nothing for Workers Democrats should not confuse Trump’s tariff disaster for a trade policy that helps workers.

We need a better way to do trade policy, one that truly levels the playing field for American workers. Read Sherrod Brown’s op-ed in the New York Times on the current state of trade and tariff policy.

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/20/o...

Sherrod Brown on Trump’s Tariffs and the Future of Economic Populism The former Ohio senator thinks the President’s tariff platform, though disastrous, appeals to an increasingly desperate working class.

“They want the dignity of work. They want the dignity of actually holding a job.”

Listen to Sherrod Brown’s conversation with @newyorker.com on trade, and the path to put workers at the center of our economic policy. www.newyorker.com/podcast/poli...

Sherrod Brown on Trump’s Tariffs and the Future of Economic Populism The former Ohio senator thinks the President’s tariff platform, though disastrous, appeals to an increasingly desperate working class.

“Fundamentally, the goal of trade policy is to level the playing field for American workers. And we really have never done that”

Sherrod Brown talks with @newyorker.com about tariffs and trade policy. www.newyorker.com/podcast/poli...

"People want a wrecking ball to the system. Trump has certainly been a wrecking ball, but he's not wrecking things in any way that benefit workers."

"I mean, where's the wrecking ball for the corporations that still raise prices?"
🔥 from Sen. Sherrod Brown

"It's not complicated, it's not mysterious. We have an economy that today that does not reward
work." - Sherrod Brown

Working-Class Voters, the Economy, and the Democratic Party Please join the Center for American Progress Action Fund for an event featuring Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and an expert panel on how the economy and economic policy shape the preferences of working-cl...

Tomorrow Sherrod Brown speaks with @capaction.bsky.social on our research and how we’re working to put workers at the center of politics and policies.

Sign up here to listen: www.americanprogressaction.org/events/worki...

TUNE IN: Sherrod Brown this morning on @morningjoe-msnbc.bsky.social discussing our launch and what we need to do to make workers the winners in our economy.

WATCH: Tonight Sherrod Brown talks to @jenpsaki.msnbc.com about our fight to put workers at the center of our politics.

It’s time to stop aiming low. Our policy aspirations should match those of American workers.

The Dignity of Work Institute will fight for an economy and society where all work is valued. Read the findings of our research here: dignityofworkinstitute.org/wp-content/upl…

It’s time for Washington to reevaluate how we measure economic success. 

Low unemployment and slowing inflation rates don’t mean the economy is strong if workers need multiple jobs to get by - let alone get ahead.

Despite their frustrations, Americans remain optimistic about what they can achieve through their own hard work.

Most workers believe their lives will improve in the next 5 years, and they largely cite their own personal work ethic as the reason.

Americans want big changes.

86% say it is time for a significant level of change, including 3-in-10 who say the entire economic system needs to change for them to be able to get ahead.

It should not be surprising that Americans say that the current economy is stacked against them. There is too much money going out the door every month, and not enough money coming in.

People are not asking much – just to be able to afford to live.

Workers are strapped - and their expectations are low when considering what is “essential” to their definition of success. Only a little more than half of Americans now say that owning a home is essential to success. Even fewer – 44% – view living on one income as essential.

This means cutting back on essentials or going into debt when your car breaks down or your bathroom floods or your insurance refuses to cover your emergency room visit.

Americans are squeezed by stagnant incomes and rising costs. More than half of Americans say they would not be able to comfortably afford an unexpected $1,000 expense.

Working multiple jobs is now a way of life. 

For many Americans, one job is not enough to survive in this economy. 60% of Americans say they have worked more than one job at a time. 1-in-4 have worked more than one job at the same time in the last two years alone.

The reality is most people are struggling with incomes that simply do not keep up with the cost of living.

Washington’s assumptions about the economy are flawed, and the standard economic indicators no longer reflect the reality of American workers’ lives. The unemployment rate and the inflation rate don’t tell even close to the whole story, and mask just how brittle our economy is.

Today, @dignityofwork.bsky.social released our first round of independent research asking Americans about their work, views on success, and what holds them back.

The evidence is clear: Americans are working harder than ever in a rigged system, but refuse to give up. 

Here’s what we found🧵:

It’s time to stop aiming low. Our policy aspirations should match those of American workers.

The Dignity of Work Institute will fight for an economy and society where all work is valued. Read the findings of our research here: dignityofworkinstitute.org/wp-content/upl…

It’s time for Washington to reevaluate how we measure economic success. 

Low unemployment and slowing inflation rates don’t mean the economy is strong if workers need multiple jobs to get by -- let alone get ahead.