Standing With Temp Workers
Since the year 2000, the Chicago Workers Collaborative has been the organizing home for Temporary Workers across Illinois.
Together, we have lifted the voices of these workers, a million-strong, who are essential for our state’s economy despite working in the shadows.
Our Work
Organize Together
We are organizers first and we believe in the power of workers. We support and guide empowered workers to organize their communities to achieve justice and dignity in their workplaces.
Connect Workers to Resources
We connect thousands of working families to community resources and critical information to meet their immediate needs, including around health, immigration, and criminal justice issues.
Supply Legal Defense
Our Working Families Legal Clinic provides pro-bono legal support for workers seeking justice for issues related to immigration, citizenship and employment law.
Build Long Lasting Change
For a quarter of a century we have successfully advanced policies to protect Temporary workers across the state. Our policy accomplishments are nationally recognized and being replicated in other states.
Our Impact
“En lo personal, ha sido y sigue siendo una experiencia muy agradable. Chicago Workers Collaborative me ha apoyado en muchos aspectos de mi vida, tanto personal como laboral. Gracias a la información que nos brindan, he podido conocer mejor mis derechos laborales y aprender inglés con enfoque laboral, lo que me ayuda a expresarme con confianza y entender mejor mis tareas en el trabajo. Espacios como esta colaborativa son fundamentales, porque nos permiten aprender y crecer. Les agradezco profundamente todo su apoyo y colaboración.”
“Personally, it has been and continues to be a very positive experience. Chicago Workers Collaborative has supported me in many aspects of my life, both personally and professionally. Thanks to the information they provide, I have been able to better understand my labor rights and learn work-focused English, which helps me express myself with confidence and better understand my tasks at work. Spaces like this collaborative are essential because they allow us to learn and grow. I am deeply grateful for all their support and collaboration.”
-Carlos Calderon, Worker
“The Chicago Workers Collaborative has been a vital force in protecting and advancing the rights of vulnerable and exploited workers in Illinois for over twenty years. The organizing they do gets at the heart of what the labor movement is all about, making the impossible possible through the power of worker solidarity.”
-Tim Drea, President IL AFL-CIO
“Chicago Workers Collaborative has established itself as a respected, go-to organization in Illinois: Leading the fight for immigrant workers’ rights through advocacy, education & outreach, and exceptional legal services - all led and staffed by directly impacted people. The Resurrection Project is a proud partner of CWC”
-Jane Lombardi, Director of Immigrant Justice Partnerships at The Resurrection Project
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