Michael McQuarrie is the director of the Center for Work and Democracy at Arizona State University and coauthor of its report on ballot-initiative politics, Majority Rules: The Battle for Ballot Initiatives.
The Minneapolis educators’ union won a historic contract just over a week ago. The victory was the product of years of rank-and-file reform efforts as well as workplace and community organizing that bridged occupational and racial divides.
Kaiser health care workers launched the biggest such strike in US history earlier this month. Their contract agreement, announced late last week, shows the landmark strike secured big gains for workers and patients alike.
In the midterms, ballot initiatives cut through partisan polarization to reveal majorities for higher wages, expanded health care access, and abortion rights. That’s why many state-level Republicans are attempting to undermine the ballot initiative process.
As our representative system has become less democratic and more oligarchical, ballot initiatives have become more important to passing majoritarian legislation. The Left should take note and proceed accordingly.