Justice at Work by Marc Doussard Summary

Justice at Work analyzes how grassroots coalitions in U.S. cities drove progressive policies like $15 minimum wages and paid sick leave during the 2010s. It highlights the interplay between economic and racial justice organizing, policy entrepreneurship, and coalition-building to challenge urban inequality. The book combines case studies from cities like Chicago and Seattle to show how localized movements create durable systemic change.

This book is essential for urban planners, policymakers, labor organizers, and scholars studying social movements. It offers actionable insights for advocates of economic equity and anti-racist policies, particularly those interested in coalition-building strategies between grassroots groups and municipal governments.

Yes—it provides a rare, evidence-backed roadmap for achieving tangible policy wins through intersectional organizing. The authors blend academic rigor with real-world examples, making it a practical resource for understanding modern urban justice movements.

The book examines campaigns in Chicago, Seattle, and New Orleans, including the Fight for $15 movement, targeted hiring initiatives, and anti-austerity protests. These cases illustrate how coalitions leverage local governance structures to advance worker protections and racial equity.

Policy entrepreneurs are activists and officials who use public discourse and city resources to create "agenda windows" for progressive reforms. They bridge grassroots demands and legislative action, often through national networks that amplify local policies like fair scheduling laws.

Doussard and Schrock argue that compelling narratives (e.g., "We are the 99%") reshape public discourse by prioritizing racial and class solidarity over technocratic fixes. These stories help coalitions build broad support while holding corporations and policymakers accountable.

The book challenges trickle-down models, showing how decades of austerity and corporate subsidies exacerbated inequality. It advocates for policies that directly empower marginalized workers, such as targeted hiring and community benefits agreements.

The authors emphasize that racial equity cannot be achieved without economic redistribution—and vice versa. Successful coalitions, like those behind paid sick leave laws, intentionally address both issues to build solidarity across diverse communities.

Yes—it acknowledges that sustaining wins requires continuous grassroots pressure and adaptable policy strategies. For example, minimum wage laws often face corporate pushback, necessitating coalitions to defend and expand initial gains.

While not explicitly covering post-2020 events, its analysis of anti-austerity protests and intersectional organizing offers a blueprint for modern movements. The emphasis on linking economic and racial justice aligns with contemporary calls to reinvest policing budgets into community services.

It shifts focus from elite-driven urban development to grassroots-led change, offering a hopeful yet pragmatic view of how marginalized communities can reshape cities. The blend of activist voices and policy analysis bridges academia and on-the-ground movements.

As a professor of equitable economic development, Doussard combines scholarly rigor with advocacy insights. His work emphasizes real-world applicability, reflecting lessons from collaborating with labor groups and policymakers.