new southern strategies: employment, workers' rights and the prospects for regional resurgence
TRANSCRIPT
New Southern Strategies: Employment, Workers’ Rights and the Prospects for Regional Resurgence
October 3, 2017
Co-
sponsors:
New Southern Strategies: Employment, Workers’ Rights and the Prospects for
Regional Resurgence
Nik Theodore
Professor & Report Author
New Southern Strategies: Employment, Workers’ Rights and the Prospects for
Regional Resurgence
Chris Kromm
Executive Director & Publisher
New Southern Strategies: Employment, Workers’ Rights and the Prospects for Regional Resurgence
Half of nation’s growth in SouthSource: ISS analysis of US Census Bureau
New Southern Strategies: Employment, Workers’ Rights and the Prospects for Regional Resurgence
Share of population born outside the South
Source: Census Bureau/The New York Times
New Southern Strategies: Employment, Workers’ Rights and the Prospects for Regional Resurgence
Source: National Interest, The Economist, Daily Beast
New Southern Strategies: Employment, Workers’ Rights and the Prospects for Regional Resurgence
45%
39% 39%38%
32%31%
26% 26%
20%19% 19%
17%15%
22%
Source: ISS/Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2017
Increase in foreign direct investment, 2007 – 2015
New Southern Strategies: Employment, Workers’ Rights and the Prospects for Regional Resurgence
Source: Good Jobs First, 2017
COMPANY STATE COST OF DEAL
Sempra Energy Louisiana $2.19 billion
Lakes Charles LNG Export Co. Louisiana $1.79 billion
Cheniere Energy Louisiana $1.69 billion
Nissan Mississippi $1.25 billion
ThyssenKrupp Alabama $1.07 billion
Boeing South Carolina $900 million
Nebraska Furniture Mart Texas $802 million
Texas Instruments Texas $600 million
Continental Tire Mississippi $596 million
Volkswagen Tennessee $554 million
Top Southern “megadeals” to lure business
New Southern Strategies: Employment, Workers’ Rights and the Prospects for Regional Resurgence
“We discourage any company that
has unions from wanting to come to
South Carolina because we don’t
want to taint the water.” - S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley (R), 2014
“[VW’s neutrality stance towards a union
is] unfair, unbalanced, and, quite frankly,
un-American in the traditions of
American labor campaigns.”- T.N. State Sen. Bo Watson (R), 2014
“If you want to take away your job, if
you want to end manufacturing as
we know it in Mississippi, just start
expanding unions.” - M.S. Gov. Phil Bryant (R), 2017
New Southern Strategies: Employment, Workers’ Rights and the Prospects for Regional Resurgence
Source: Prosperity Now/Occupational Employment Statistics, 2017
States where more than a
third of jobs are low-wage
New Southern Strategies: Employment, Workers’ Rights and the Prospects for Regional Resurgence
Areas with least economic mobility
Source: Chetty/Hendren, 2013
New Southern Strategies: Employment, Workers’ Rights and the Prospects for Regional Resurgence
Source: ISS/US Census Bureau, 2017
Urban/rural shifts in the South
New Southern Strategies: Employment, Workers’ Rights and the Prospects for Regional Resurgence
Source: Economic Policy Institute, 2017
Anti-worker preemption laws, 2016-2017
New Southern Strategies: Employment, Workers’ Rights and the Prospects for Regional Resurgence
Source: ISS/States of Change, 2016
Growth in people of color voters, 2014-2060
New Southern Strategies: Employment, Workers’ Rights and the Prospects for Regional Resurgence
Percent Who View Unions “Very
Favorably” or “Mostly Favorably”
Whites 47%
Latinos 54%
African-Americans 73%
Percent Who Believe Unions “Are Necessary to Protect Working People”
1987 2012Midwest 75% 65%South 59% 60%West 65% 64%
Source: Apollo Group/National Journal, 2012; Pew Research Center, 2014
New Southern Strategies: Employment, Workers’ Rights and the Prospects for Regional Resurgence
CHRIS KROMM
Executive Director/Publisher
@chriskromm
INSTITUTE FOR SOUTHERN STUDIES
www.southernstudies.org
FACING SOUTH WEEKLY UPDATE
put “subscribe” in subject line
New Southern Strategies: Employment, Workers’ Rights and the Prospects for
Regional Resurgence
LaTosha Brown Director, Grantmakers for Southern Progress
Ryan SchlegelSenior Research & Policy Associate, NCRP
TOTALPer Capita Grantmaking, 2010-2014
Alabama Black Belt
AL
MS
GA
United States
NY
New York City
Atlanta
$28
$130
$204
$329
$453
$451
$995
$1,966
CIVIC ENGAGEMENTPer Capita Grantmaking, 2010-2014
Alabama Black Belt
AL
MS
GA
United States
NY
New York City
Atlanta
$0.51
$4
$20
$14
$19
$39
$92
$203
The Goal:
To increase the size and sustainability of
funding to the South
. . . from Southern AND national philanthropy
. . . for strategies that strengthen the power and
quality of life of Southern marginalized communities
. . . in ways that are accountable to and informed by these same communities.
Intent: Secure needed progressive wins.
Impact:Dangerously limits what change can be.
Instead:Prevent harsh backslides &
build long-term power.
Intent: Get money to people who “know how to use it.”
Impact:Mistakes privilege for capacity.
Instead:Value organizing skills over
grant seeking skills.
Intent: Support what works, and quickly.
Impact:Overlooks unfamiliar leaders and strategies.
Instead:Prioritize relationships, and
trust existing (often unseen)
work.
Culture of fear
• What do funders need to understand about the role of fear in Southern communities?
• How does that fear prop up bad leaders, bad policies?
• How can funders support culture-shift?
Why Does the South Matter?
• What starts here, goes national
• The communities most threatened by injustice are largely in the South
• It’s the birthplace of the resistance – and that expertise is sharper now than ever
CIVIC ENGAGEMENTPer Capita Grantmaking, 2010-2014
Alabama Black Belt
AL
MS
GA
United States
NY
New York City
Atlanta
$0.51
$4
$20
$14
$19
$39
$92
$203
Funder Strategy Discussion
• What will it take to win
successful campaigns in
the South?
• What can funders do
towards this effort?