August 19, 2026 — The National Employment Law Project (NELP), a cornerstone of American labor advocacy for over half a century, announced today the appointment of Teresa Acuña as the organization’s new Visiting Fellow for Good Jobs Democracy. The move signals a strategic shift for the nonprofit, which aims to bridge the gap between high-level policy research and on-the-ground legislative advocacy to reshape the American labor market.
Acuña, a seasoned policy expert with extensive experience in the halls of both federal and state government, is tasked with translating NELP’s robust research agenda into actionable strategies. Her primary mandate is to ensure that the "Good Jobs" framework—a concept gaining significant traction in post-pandemic economic policy—becomes the standard for workers across the United States.
The Core Mandate: Bridging Policy and Power
The appointment of Acuña comes at a pivotal moment in the American economic landscape. As the nation grapples with the transition toward green energy, the revitalization of domestic manufacturing, and the complexities of an evolving digital workforce, the definition of a "good job" has become a central point of political contention.
In her new role, Acuña will work in close coordination with NELP’s existing senior policy fellows. Her objective is not merely to suggest policy, but to drive a "Good Jobs Democracy"—a framework that asserts that economic security is a prerequisite for robust civic engagement. The theory of change behind this initiative is straightforward: when workers are untethered from the anxieties of precarious employment, low wages, and inadequate benefits, they are better equipped to participate in the democratic process.
"Teresa’s experience in translating policy ideas into tangible wins for workers and their communities is critical to advancing NELP’s vision of an inclusive democracy where all workers have the economic foundation to contribute to and share in progress," said NELP CEO Rebecca Dixon in a statement released on Tuesday. "Good jobs enable people to be active citizens."
A Career Defined by Pro-Worker Advocacy
Teresa Acuña enters this role with a portfolio that spans the most influential levels of government. Her career has been marked by a consistent focus on the intersection of legislative power and worker protections.
Chronology of a Policy Leader
- Early Legislative Career: Acuña began her trajectory in state and federal legislatures, serving as a legislative director for members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the California State Legislature. During this tenure, she developed a reputation for navigating complex bureaucratic structures to draft and pass legislation that protected labor rights and improved working conditions at the state level.
- The Good Jobs Initiative: Most recently, Acuña served as the Director of the Good Jobs Initiative at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) during the Biden-Harris administration.
- Federal Impact: Under the leadership of Acting Secretary Julie Su, Acuña was instrumental in the federal government’s efforts to tie industrial investment to labor standards. Her work focused on ensuring that massive federal infusions of capital into infrastructure, clean energy, and domestic manufacturing projects were not merely "job creation" machines, but engines for high-quality, sustainable employment.
Her tenure at the DOL was characterized by an aggressive push to implement project labor agreements and ensure that federally funded projects provided clear, accessible pathways into the middle class for historically marginalized communities.
Supporting Data: Why "Good Jobs" Matter
The urgency of Acuña’s appointment is underscored by recent data regarding the American labor market. While unemployment rates have remained historically low in recent years, the quality of jobs remains a persistent challenge for the American workforce.
The Precarious Employment Gap
According to recent labor studies, a significant portion of the U.S. workforce—estimated at nearly 40%—remains in positions that lack stable benefits, predictable scheduling, or pathways for wage growth. NELP’s own research suggests that the "Good Jobs" deficit is a primary driver of income inequality, which in turn fuels political polarization.
Economic Multipliers of Quality Employment
Data from the Department of Labor during Acuña’s tenure demonstrated that when government investments prioritize high-road labor standards—such as prevailing wages and collective bargaining rights—the economic multiplier effect is significantly higher. Families with stable, well-paying jobs tend to invest more in education, healthcare, and local businesses, creating a "virtuous cycle" of local economic growth.
NELP’s advocacy has impacted an estimated 100 million workers over the last decade. By focusing on the "Good Jobs Democracy" framework, Acuña aims to codify these wins into structural law rather than relying on temporary administrative mandates.
Official Responses and Strategic Implications
The appointment has been met with optimism from labor organizers and policy analysts alike.
The NELP Perspective
NELP leadership emphasizes that Acuña’s background is a "perfect fit" for the organization’s current strategic direction. By placing someone with deep "inside-the-beltway" experience at the center of their advocacy team, NELP is signaling that they intend to be more aggressive in the upcoming legislative sessions. The organization’s goal is to move beyond the traditional "defensive" posture of labor advocacy—which often focuses on preventing the erosion of existing rights—to an "offensive" posture that sets new, higher standards for the 21st-century economy.
Industry and Economic Implications
For policymakers, Acuña’s appointment serves as a signal that the focus on "Good Jobs" is not fading. Industry leaders who contract with the federal government should expect continued, and likely increased, scrutiny regarding their labor practices. Acuña’s expertise in how the federal government can use its purchasing power to enforce labor standards suggests that the "Good Jobs" requirements integrated into recent infrastructure spending will likely become the blueprint for future federal procurement.
The Road Ahead: Defining the "Good Jobs Democracy"
As Acuña steps into her new role, her immediate focus will be on building the infrastructure for the Good Jobs Democracy project. This will likely involve:
- State-Level Model Legislation: Leveraging her experience in the California State Legislature, Acuña is expected to help NELP craft model bills for states looking to tie economic development subsidies to high-road labor standards.
- Federal Policy Integration: Working with Congressional allies to ensure that the next generation of industrial policy legislation includes robust, enforceable labor protections that go beyond mere job counts.
- Public Advocacy and Communications: Using her platform as a Visiting Fellow to articulate the link between economic stability and democratic health, essentially rebranding labor policy as a core pillar of national security and civic health.
The Intersection of Democracy and Labor
Perhaps the most innovative aspect of Acuña’s mandate is the explicit link to "democracy." NELP’s leadership argues that a worker who is constantly worried about paying rent or who lacks the flexibility to take time off for civic participation is effectively disenfranchised. By framing "Good Jobs" as a democratic necessity, Acuña is shifting the conversation from a traditional economic debate to a fundamental discussion about the health of the American republic.
Conclusion: A Legacy in the Making
Since its founding in 1969, the National Employment Law Project has been the primary architect of many of the labor victories that define modern worker rights. From the expansion of the Fair Labor Standards Act to the recent surge in local minimum wage increases, NELP has been the engine behind the scenes.
By bringing Teresa Acuña into the fold, the organization is doubling down on the belief that the future of the American economy depends on the quality of the jobs created within it. As Acuña begins her work, the focus will be on transforming the lessons learned at the Department of Labor into a durable, nationwide standard for what it means to be a worker in a 21st-century democracy.
For the American worker, this appointment represents a renewed commitment to the idea that economic justice is not an afterthought, but the foundation upon which a healthy, participatory democracy must be built. As Acuña herself has often argued, when workers thrive, the entire democratic project is strengthened. The coming months will likely see NELP launching new initiatives that prioritize this philosophy, setting the stage for a new era of worker-centric policy advocacy.
