How to improve pay and working conditions in entire industries in one fell swoop

Policy for the People

Policy for the People
How to improve pay and working conditions in entire industries in one fell swoop
Mar 13, 2025
Oregon Center for Public Policy

The revival of an old idea is offering hope for improving pay and working conditions in entire industries all at once. That policy is often referred to as Workforce Standards Boards.

In this episode of Policy for the People, Ira Cuello-Martinez of PCUN, Oregon’s Farmworker Union, discusses the tough working conditions that farmworkers in Oregon endure, and why the creation of a Workforce Standards Board for farmworkers – something currently under discussion in Salem – could be a real game changer.

Then, David Madland of the Center for American Progress explains the benefits of Workforce Standards Boards and why there’s been a resurgence of interest in this policy.