We are living through a moment of extraordinary concentration of wealth and power. The Trump administration has gutted the National Labor Relations Board, leaving workers without a functioning federal agency to protect their rights. Unions are the single most effective institution we have ever built. They ensure that the gains of a growing economy are shared by the people who built it, not concentrated at the top. They are how we build and maintain a thriving middle class. We have to do more than say we stand with labor. We have to actively fight for its advancement and back that commitment with real protections and policies.

The solutions:

• Pass the Striking Workers Bill. Workers deserve a state that has their back. This bill would establish a $1 million fund, financed through the unemployment insurance system, to support workers who remain on strike for more than two weeks. That two-week threshold is crucial: nearly all strikes end before reaching it. Evidence from other states shows that when similar funding is available, strikes lasting more than two weeks decline sharply—because the ability to sustain a strike for a longer period gives workers greater bargaining power and helps speed up negotiations with employers.

• Create a State Income Tax Credit for 100% of Union Dues. Private interests are spending money to convince workers to leave their unions. The economic argument they are making should not go unanswered. We will respond directly by making dues cost nothing out of pocket for Connecticut workers.

• Install a Labor Liaison. Having a dedicated position in the Governor’s office to advise on and guide state labor policy, and to work directly with unions across the state, gives workers greater influence—and a seat at the table.