Renters Unite: ‘Tis the Season for Collective Action

By Ashley Benkarski As 2023 draws to a close and with the holiday season upon us, let’s take some time to reflect on the gains Americans have made with efforts of unionization over the last year. Workers have made significant progress in their demands, from the auto industry to the entertainment industry, through the power of collective action coming in the form of historic wage and contract increases, better working conditions, and solidified rights.& And while much of the news has focused on these industries, it shouldn’t go unnoticed that renters are now joining together in a historic movement to make gains of their own. For so many of us, their stories are our stories, or the stories of someone we know. After all, housing is necessary for survival. With interest rates and home prices locking out a significant portion of Americans from the dream of homeownership, the number of households that rent is increasing. Worse, across the nation people are feeling the squeeze of housing costs. Part of the problem lies in lagging wages that can’t make up for rising costs. But it’s also due to the predatory practices of landlords and the systems in place in society that...