new southern strategies: employment, workers' rights and the prospects for regional resurgence

New Southern Strategies: Employment, Workers’ Rights and the Prospects for Regional Resurgence

October 3, 2017

Co-

sponsors:

Welcome!

New Southern Strategies: Employment, Workers’ Rights and the Prospects for

Regional Resurgence

Nik Theodore

Professor & Report Author


Regional Resurgence

Chris Kromm

Executive Director & Publisher


Half of nation’s growth in SouthSource: ISS analysis of US Census Bureau


Share of population born outside the South

Source: Census Bureau/The New York Times


Source: National Interest, The Economist, Daily Beast


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


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


“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


Source: Prosperity Now/Occupational Employment Statistics, 2017

States where more than a

third of jobs are low-wage


Areas with least economic mobility

Source: Chetty/Hendren, 2013


Source: ISS/US Census Bureau, 2017

Urban/rural shifts in the South


Source: Economic Policy Institute, 2017

Anti-worker preemption laws, 2016-2017


Source: ISS/States of Change, 2016

Growth in people of color voters, 2014-2060


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


CHRIS KROMM

Executive Director/Publisher

[email protected]

@chriskromm

INSTITUTE FOR SOUTHERN STUDIES

www.southernstudies.org

FACING SOUTH WEEKLY UPDATE

[email protected]

put “subscribe” in subject line


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

+

“As the South Grows”

=

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?

What we’ve learned

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

The key to any lasting progressive vision for the

country?

It’s the South.

Questions? Want to be involved?

Ryan Schlegel – [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Implications and Lessons Learned from Canton

Nsombi Lambright

Interim Executive Director

Register to join us!

www.nfg.org/fje_alabama

Funder Strategy Discussion

• What will it take to win

successful campaigns in

the South?

• What can funders do

towards this effort?

Thank you!

Stay in touch with the Funders for a Just Economy

Manisha Vaze [email protected]

new southern strategies: employment, workers' rights and the prospects for regional resurgence

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