ABSTRACT
The federal government was the driving force behind the social contract for labor that emerged in the 1930s and 1940s. Since the 1970s, however, the federal government's approach to labor policies has been largely hands off. As a result, U.S. labor laws are far out of date. This chapter looks at federal policies that could benefit both workers and the national economy. One idea that would advance these goals is federal investment in infrastructure. Another is greater investment in science and engineering. Changing tax laws that would encourage employers to reshore business is a third way the federal government could contribute to greater job stability. We also discuss portable benefits, policies that would support working families, policies that would protect workers in the context of the fissured workplace, and policies to benefit groups of workers that the New Deal social contract excluded.
