she/her
Karla Walter is a senior fellow for Inclusive Economy at the Center for American Progress Action Fund. Walter focuses primarily on improving the economic security of American workers by increasing workers’ wages and benefits, promoting workplace protections, and advancing workers’ rights at work. Prior to joining American Progress, Walter was a research analyst at Good Jobs First, providing support to officials, policy research organizations, and grassroots advocacy groups striving to make state and local economic development subsidies more accountable and effective. She has co-authored several studies that promote economic development policies that meet workers’ needs and advocate for greater corporate accountability. Previously, she worked as a legislative aide for Wisconsin State Rep. Jennifer Shilling. Her work has been referenced in The New York Times and other newspapers. Walter earned a master’s degree in urban planning and policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
To view the work of the American Worker Project, click here.
In an op-ed published by InsideSources, Karla Walter and David Madland break down the real economic impacts that Trump’s recent slew of executive orders could have on everyday Americans.
In an op-ed published by Governing, Karla Walter and David Madland describe tangible, proven strategies state policymakers can use to strengthen the power of the working class in their communities this year.
State lawmakers should act to strengthen workers’ power in the economy.
State lawmakers can adopt new policies to empower workers across the public sector to come together in strong unions, negotiate for fair pay and working conditions, and train the next generation for public service.
New CAP analysis shows many essential airport service workers earn less than $15 per hour. Here’s how policymakers can fix that.
The Biden-Harris administration's industrial investments from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act are creating U.S. manufacturing jobs and often result in high-quality union jobs, but policymakers can go further to uphold job quality on projects that receive federal investments.
Pro-worker policymakers should use public and private rhetoric to support organizing campaigns and ensure government spending creates high-quality union jobs.
Karla Walter published an op-ed in Crain’s New York Business arguing for why airport service workers under the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey deserve better workplace standards.
The Biden administration is raising pay, building power, and improving living standards for service workers across the economy—including fast-food cooks, call center workers, teachers, home care workers, and federal employees.
Karla Walter writes in Route Fifty about the need for policymakers to build on the Biden administration’s historic federal infrastructure investments, arguing that one of the best ways to cement these workforce gains is for local jurisdictions to strengthen their job quality standards.
The Biden administration is fighting to protect fast food and outsourced workers’ right to come together in unions—and shouldn’t let anti-worker lawmakers undermine these efforts.
State and local policymakers can raise standards for workers and the public through prevailing wages, project labor agreements, and several other best practices.
