Brandworkers was founded in 2007 by retail and food employees who identified a need for an organization dedicated to protecting and advancing their rights. The organization was launched based on a simple principle: that working people themselves, equipped with powerful social change tools, were uniquely positioned to make positive change on the job and in society. By empowering retail and food employees with social change tools, Brandworkers has recovered over $2 million in unpaid wages and compensation for discrimination; improved working conditions for hundreds of workers; and has helped workers develop as powerful social change leaders.