The Cause: Why Workers Need Us
Every day across the country, people are punished for standing up for their right to organize at work.
Without union protections, many face lost wages, illegal firings, and pressure from employers determined to silence them.
Even though the National Labor Relations Act is supposed to protect workers, companies often break the rules—and workers are left to suffer the consequences. Some are even blocked from collecting unemployment.
That’s where we step in.
The Worker Solidarity & Defense Foundation provides direct financial support to workers who’ve been pushed out, retaliated against, or cut off from help—just for fighting for better conditions.
Our Work: How We Champion Change
The Worker Solidarity & Defense Foundation is one of the only organizations in the country that provides direct, non-taxable financial support to workers who’ve been economically punished for organizing or taking collective action.
We step in when workers have been financially harmed— and when no other relief is available to them. Whether someone has already been fired or is preparing to go on strike and fears retaliation, we offer a path forward. In some cases, we can even set aside emergency funds for groups anticipating wage loss, giving workers the confidence to act knowing that help is available if their paychecks are negatively affected for standing up for their rights.
This is solidarity.
What We Do
We Raise Funds
We raise funds through both donations and long-term strategies to sustain our support for workers. By combining grassroots fundraising with smart financial stewardship, we work to ensure that workers facing retaliation can count on us—not just today, but for the long haul.
We Make Charitable Donations
We provide charitable support to individuals or groups who’ve experienced employer retaliation—like lost wages, firings, or hour cuts—for organizing or speaking out. We review each request carefully and prioritize support where the need is urgent and the harm is clear. Both individual workers and groups can apply.
We Stand With Labor
We stand with workers organizing for better treatment on the job—across all sectors, industries, and regardless of whether they’re part of a union, forming one, or organizing independently. While we don’t fund organizing efforts, we stand in solidarity with those taking collective action and provide charitable support to workers who have been retaliated against for exercising their rights.