Understanding the Working Families Organization: A Comprehensive Overview

The Working Families Organization (WFO), established in 2006, functions as the 501(c)(4) arm of the Working Families Party (WFP), a political party on the far-left that is deeply connected with labor unions and their funding. This organization shares ideological alignment and goals with the Working Families Party, particularly in key urban centers and states known for their progressive leanings, such as New York City and Oregon. While the Working Families Party is dedicated to endorsing and campaigning for progressive candidates at various levels of government, the Working Families Organization states its primary focus is on “nonpartisan advocacy on important issues facing working families.” This encompasses a range of advocacy efforts, from championing labor union priorities like mandated paid sick leave and a $15 minimum wage to addressing broader left-leaning concerns such as climate change and fostering a “green economy.”

Though legally separate entities, the Working Families Party and the Working Families Organization operate in close coordination to promote a shared vision of progressive economic and electoral reforms. Their advocacy is most visible in campaigns focused on tackling economic inequality, enhancing public education, reforming campaign finance, and advancing environmental activism. Current initiatives of the Working Families Organization include advocating for increased minimum wages and paid sick leave laws across various cities and states, opposing reforms in public education, and pushing for higher taxes.

Initially rooted in New York City, where it still exerts significant political influence, the Working Families Organization has expanded its reach, establishing chapters in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.

Key Issues and Campaigns

The Working Families Organization has been a vocal participant in what it terms the “resistance” against conservative political agendas. A significant part of their activity has been in opposing policies and personnel decisions they associate with specific political administrations. This has included organizing grassroots movements aimed at pressuring political leaders to oppose certain policies. These movements have manifested as coordinated actions at local congressional offices, designed to publicly challenge and denounce specific political decisions.

Furthermore, the organization actively participated in the “People’s Climate March” in May 2017, joining demonstrations in Washington, D.C., and other major cities. This involvement highlights their commitment to environmental activism and their alignment with broader left-wing movements.

The advocacy portfolio of the Working Families Organization is extensive and covers a wide array of progressive policy objectives. These include advocating for mandatory paid sick leave legislation, pushing for a $15 national minimum wage, supporting policing policies endorsed by the Black Lives Matter movement, advocating for equal pay legislation, and promoting mandated paid maternity leave.

In a more recent campaign in March 2021, the WFO launched a substantial digital advertising campaign targeting Republican members of the House of Representatives who voted against H.R. 1. This bill, considered a key legislative priority for Democrats, aimed to bring about federalization of elections in the United States, indicating the organization’s focus on electoral policy and its willingness to engage in direct political campaigns.

Funding and Financials

Transparency regarding the funding of the Working Families Organization is limited, as there is no publicly available, centralized list of its donors, and the organization itself does not release a comprehensive public account of its funding sources.

However, available records indicate that the Working Families Organization has benefited from substantial financial contributions from various progressive organizations. Notably, it has received donations from the Tides Foundation, a liberal donor-advised fund based in the Bay Area. Despite some groups labeling similar conservative-leaning entities as sources of “dark money,” the WFO has accepted funds from such sources. Tax filings reveal donors through the Tides Foundation contributed significant amounts in different years.

Further financial support has come from entities like the Fund for Policy Inc., which donated large sums in both 2014 and 2015. The Rockefeller Family Fund has also been a notable donor, contributing significantly in 2011 and 2012. Additionally, the Proteus Action League and the Progressive America Fund (operating as the Center for Working Families) have made financial contributions, with the Progressive America Fund being a particularly significant donor over several years. The Leadership Center for the Common Good has also contributed to the organization’s funding.

Democracy Alliance Connection

The Working Families Organization is listed as a recommended recipient by the Democracy Alliance, a network of wealthy left-progressive donors. This alliance convenes donors to recommend and direct funding towards key progressive groups. The Working Families Organization is recognized within this alliance for its “aggressive campaigns” aimed at electing progressive politicians, suggesting its strategic importance within the broader progressive funding network.

Key People and Affiliations

The Working Families Organization maintains strong ties with prominent national progressive groups and labor unions. Its national and state advisory boards include members from major labor unions such as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Communications Workers of America (CWA), United Auto Workers (UAW), American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). Beyond labor unions, the advisory board also includes individuals from influential progressive organizations like MoveOn.org, the Center for Popular Democracy, and Casa de Maryland, highlighting a broad network of affiliations within the progressive movement.

Ilya Sheyman, who serves as the executive director of MoveOn Political Action, is also a member of the national advisory board, further illustrating the close connections between these organizations. The Working Families Organization and MoveOn collaborate both on a national level and in local election campaigns, although they remain formally independent entities.

At the helm of the Working Families Organization is Executive Director Dan Cantor, who concurrently serves as the national director of the Working Families Party. Cantor’s background includes early career involvement with ACORN and the National Labor Committee on Central America, reflecting a long history in left-wing activism. He also contributed opinion pieces to Huffington Post on a range of political and social issues. Cantor co-founded the Working Families Party in 1998 with Bob Master, who currently serves on the board of the Working Families Organization, reinforcing the deep and intertwined leadership structure between the organization and the party.

Conclusion

The Working Families Organization stands as a significant entity within the landscape of American progressive politics. Functioning in close partnership with the Working Families Party and deeply embedded within a network of labor unions and progressive groups, the organization plays a crucial role in advocating for left-leaning policies and mobilizing grassroots movements. Its focus on issues affecting working families, combined with its strategic political engagement and fundraising capabilities, positions the Working Families Organization as a key player in shaping progressive political discourse and action in the United States.

Understanding the Working Families Organization: A Comprehensive Overview

Key Issues and Campaigns

Funding and Financials

Democracy Alliance Connection

Key People and Affiliations

Conclusion

See Also

References

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