As the scorching Hot Labor Summer gives way to Solidarity Season, the collective power of over 453,000 workers takes center stage on the picket lines. Their demands are clear: fair wages, safety and security in the workplace. Respect and dignity in one’s work is a very simple request. However, employers and corporations have spent months deliberately stalling negotiations and chipping away at what little protections currently exist. While Q3 earnings reports lament revenue lost due to labor actions,  workers have gone without a paycheck for months. For many living on the edge of financial instability, this prolonged income drought has made an already bad situation even worse. Winter slowdowns are on the horizon and may prove even more devastating for workers and their families. How can we better support the people on the frontlines risking their livelihoods to advocate for an equitable Bay Area?

Donate – One of the best ways to support striking workers is to donate your time or money to efforts by your local union. They may have a strike assistance program or a list of specific community needs you could help with.

Discover – America has a long history of collective organizing and stories of how everyday workers have advanced equity our society. Take some time to read about past and present labor leaders like Larry Itliong, Helene Powell, Chris Smalls, or Yvonne Wheeler.

Defend – Your voice matters in this fight, too! From every dollar you spend to your voting ballot to your algorithm, make sure you are making choices that align with your support for workers’ rights. You can start this today by forwarding this newsletter to someone in your network or sharing it on LinkedIn!

To the workers defending our humanity and making it possible for everyone to live full lives with security, dignity, and agency in our work, home, and communities, we say Thank you.
In Solidarity,

​​​​​​Brianna, Janelle, + Rob

To read future newsletters, click here to subscribe.