No Bosses, No Landlords

Supposedly, we live in a democracy. In reality, our bosses and our landlords chose how much we're paid and how much those very wages go towards rent.

No Bosses, No Landlords
Touchstone workers on strike at Verdigo Boulders in Burbank, California, March 24th, 2025. (Jess Kim)

Supposedly, we live in a democracy. In reality, our bosses and our landlords chose how much we're paid and how much those very wages go towards rent. These bosses and landlords make other everyday decisions for us, too — like whether a shift is adequately staffed and when (and even whether) a clogged bathroom sink gets fixed.

Last week, Current took a closer look at how tenants and workers fight back:

  • Commercial landlords soak small business with unpredictable maintenance charges again and again
  • Touchstone Climbing Gym workers continue to fight for a union contract after a mass shooter threat, an FBI investigation, a strike and a boycott
  • Urban Ore workers hit back after the owners backtrack on agreements made after their 40-day strike

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