Mara Rafferty   
Executive Director

LERC Director Mara Rafferty (she/her) is an equity-focused educator and community organizer who most recently served as Lead External Organizer for United Autoworkers Local 4121. As an organizer, she led and contributed to mass campaigns that saw thousands of workers win new collective bargaining rights and first contracts. A strong believer in the leadership of rank and file workers and the power of open and transparent bargaining, Mara has witnessed the ways that democratic decision making in unions can lead to mass participation and unprecedented wins for workers and communities. 

Before joining the UAW, Mara worked for several nonprofit and community organizations where she helped develop policy research and participatory civic education programs. As an experienced researcher with degrees in International Relations (BA) and Economics (MA), Mara brings a strong grounding in qualitative and quantitative research skills, which she uses to help workers develop strong bodies of research to support their campaigns. 

Outside of work, Mara can be found painting, playing music, baking, and spending time with her family.

Muhammad Javid
Labor Policy Researcher
(206) 934-5380

Muhammad (he/him) is the Labor Policy Researcher at the Labor Center. Born in Pakistan and raised in Sacramento, California, Muhammad is a first-generation immigrant with a working-class background. He brings to the Labor Center a perspective of economic justice from a working-class immigrant lens, alongside a commitment of conducting relevant research to aid the causes of working people. From the University of California, Riverside he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a concentration in International Affairs, Summa Cum Laude.

James Oliveros
Labor Educator

James (they/them) is a Labor Educator at the Labor Center. Prior to joining the team, James served as Education Chair of Anakbayan Seattle, a youth organization focused on liberation and National Democracy for the Philippines and its people. James has also worked as a community organizer with groups like Washington CAN, the International League of Peoples’ Struggle, and various local mutual aid efforts in Seattle. In their education efforts at the Labor Center, James is committed to building workplace solidarity with community members and defending every worker’s right to dignity, fair wages, and a fulfilling livelihood.