Greg LeRoy, founder of Good Jobs First, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to share his insights on combating wage theft, corporate misconduct and protecting workers.
LeRoy established Good Jobs First in 1998, a nonprofit organization that fights for corporate accountability and transparency. Over the years, LeRoy has spearheaded initiatives to expose corporate violations, focusing on wage theft and labor law breaches. The work of Good Jobs First has helped local governments and communities hold corporations accountable for their actions.
LeRoy discussed the impact of Good Jobs First's Violation Tracker, a comprehensive database highlighting corporate misconduct, including wage theft and labor violations. This tool has empowered local governments, like New York City and San Diego County, to create dashboards that name repeat offenders. LeRoy said the goal is to prevent companies from securing public contracts if they have a history of exploiting workers.
Unfortunately, when combating wage theft, many workers are unaware of their employer's violations. LeRoy highlighted the need for continued vigilance and the role local governments play in enforcing accountability. Soon, these efforts could expand globally, with Violation Tracker now covering multinational corporations in 50 countries. With this expansion, LeRoy said the tracker can now help protect workers' rights on a global scale.
Listen to the full episode to hear more from LeRoy about wage theft and the importance of corporate accountability.