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

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In case it slipped under your radar, October 5th marked Latina Equal Pay Day! Did you know that Latinas make 52 cents for every dollar a white non-Hispanic man makes? Throughout the day, numerous social justice organizations joined forces in a social media storm, shining a spotlight on this staggering gender pay gap. We heard a multitude of stories backed by statistics of wage disparity and discrimination. The median annual pay for a Latina in the United States is $31,600, while the median yearly income for a white, non-Hispanic man is $60,830. At this rate, Latina women quite literally must work twice as hard to get half as far. Given this near $30,000 difference, in conjunction with over half of all Bay Area residents experiencing trouble with covering basic household expenses, the impact of paying women equitably is real. The consequences of not doing so are just as palpable. Employment discrimination and inequality cost the Bay Area approximately $5 billion in unrealized Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2020 alone.

As stark as these statistics are, it’s important to remember that real people are behind them. $30,000 is thirty-eight months’ worth of groceries. It’s three years of childcare or two years of rent. That $30,000 is a completed associate’s degree. This is life-changing money. And if we are going to ReWork the Bay Area into a place where everyone can live full lives with dignity in their work, we will have to take life-changing action. We can use these numbers to tell the stories of the people behind them in an honest and compelling way.

In a unique collaboration, our cross-sector Equity at Work Council, in partnership with the Bay Area Equity Atlas, took decades of experiences and data from Bay Area workers and crafted a narrative that provides a comprehensive view of how workers are faring in the region. It’s a meaningful exploration beyond numbers, delving into the everyday stories that shape our workforce.

We are thrilled to present the first-ever State of Bay Area Workers Data Tool. There, you will find a well-rounded picture of work and workers in each Bay Area county and the Region as a whole. With the data tool, you will learn more about where we are and, in turn, help get us to where we want to be.
In Community,

​​​​​​Briana, Janelle, + Rob

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Studs Terkel, an American author, first published “Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do” in 1974. His style of writing focuses on oral history, where the people lead and tell their own stories, absolutely shines. We hear from dozens of workers in various industries, from flight attendants and servers to teachers and autoworkers, about their ambitions and frustrations with this thing called work. Terkel’s book is a first-hand account of motivation, self-actualization, and the American labor experience.

Certainly, much has changed in the last 50 years, right?

Earlier this year, “Working: What We Do All Day” debuted on Netflix. The four-part documentary, directed by Caroline Suh and narrated by Barack Obama, gave us a glimpse into the experiences of workers today. The documentary follows people from across the country doing their best to find economic stability and navigate the changing field of employment while building a fulfilling life.

One constant that stood out like a neon light was how strongly workers from both the documentary and book wrapped their sense of identity and self-worth around their job; and thus they demanded more from them. As Terkel wrote, “Work is about a search for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for astonishment rather than torpor; in short, for a sort of life rather than a Monday through Friday sort of dying.” As recounted in the book, Mike LeFervre’s frustration with pouring into his job at the steel mill without getting anything back parallels hauntingly to Randi of the Netflix documentary, who opts for lower wages to have a job with meaning and impact.

A significant piece left dangling in these stories is how these workers deserve more and how we, as a society, can do better for them. You shouldn’t have to choose between helping the community and putting food on the table. A job where you are entrusted to take care of the most vulnerable of people should not pay $9 an hour, and you should not have to disassociate from your body to get through the day. Everyone deserves to live a full life, one where their heart swells with the respect that is felt at home and at work. We are proud to help rework the Bay Area economy into a place where workers get a little more out of clocking in.

With admiration,

Janelle, Brianna, + Rob

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August is a significant month for commemorating resilience, strength, and community power. We celebrate Black August in uplifting freedom fighters contending with the prison industrial complex, as well as rejoice in community power building during Black Philanthropy Month. Black August teaches us that autonomy over one’s life is a fundamental human right and must be treated as such, while Black Philanthropy Month is proof that when we work in solidarity, our reach is that much greater. At ReWork the Bay, we know it’s possible to rebuild the Bay Area economy so that it serves everyone. We move towards achieving this every day. And, through observing and educating ourselves about Black August and Black Philanthropy Month, we embrace a core truth about this work:

We cannot accomplish this mission without the community. The communities we serve must be centered and have complete autonomy in decision-making. Otherwise, we are just taking pretty pictures.

Philanthropy is such a powerful tool in advancing equity. However, just like any tool, it works best when used efficiently. The most efficient use of philanthropic dollars is building community power and funding community-led initiatives. Unfortunately, much of today’s philanthropy misses the mark by supporting projects built in silos, far away from the problems and the real people they affect. I am proud to work for an organization that recognizes and actively seeks to correct these issues within today’s philanthropy. At ReWork the Bay, we unite leaders in economic justice, education and training, business, and philanthropy to advance collective solutions for a diverse and equitable Bay Area. Several leaders of the organizations on the Equity at Work Council have rich lived experiences that inform their philanthropic work, including Jeffery Wallace of LeadersUp, Kaiton Williams of Impact America Fund, Zima Creason of California EDGE Coalition, Terah Lawyer-Harper of CROP Organization, and Dr. Carole Dorham-Kelly of Rubicon Programs. These leaders are members of the communities they serve and, as such, build innovative and effective solutions that center the people, not the projects.

Join us in learning more about the work of Dr. Jacqueline Bouvier Copeland, founder of Black Philanthropy Month, and the life of George Jackson, community activist who served as the inspiration for Black August. Their efforts encourage and motivate us to continue to work toward a future where everyone has agency and dignity in their work, home, and communities.

In solidarity,
Brianna, Janelle, + Rob

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After a month of recharging and reflecting, we are back and thrilled to share two pieces of fantastic news with you!

First, we’ve been working on something big that will bring us one step closer to ReWorking California’s economy so that it serves everyone. Earlier this year, after months of planning and partnership building, we released a request for proposals for projects that redefine job quality for frontline staff in workforce development organizations. Compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma are everyday experiences for these workers, and unfortunately, workforce organizations often lack the resources to support them in maintaining their mental and physical health. This stress is not only felt by frontline workers; the ripple effects can also impact job seekers.

We know that the California economy can do better to serve the needs of these workers, and we are excited to announce the eight organizations selected to do just that! This collaborative two-year project includes a structured training program, a mix of remote work and onsite activities, and an opportunity for frontline workers trained as researchers to publish their findings and reflections. Their findings will help also inform the next steps for broader, systems-level policy and practice change.

Over the next several months, we will introduce these organizations and their work in our monthly newsletter, so be sure to add reworkthebay@sff.org to your contacts or mark us as “not spam” so you don’t miss out on these stories from the frontlines!

Second, we are thrilled to introduce Janelle Coronado, ReWork’s new Associate Initiative Officer! Janelle will lead our work in communications, grantmaking, contracting, relationship management, and organizing our virtual and in-person convenings.

Please join us in welcoming her to the team. Check out the rest of the newsletter to read more about Janelle and the first featured job quality cohort member, Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program.

In Community,
Brianna + Rob + Janelle

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This work is hard. Helping our neighbors achieve their goals and find fulfilling work that promotes a just Bay Area economy brings us to the highest of highs. Yet, at the same time, watching employers and policymakers disregard the security, dignity, and agency of workers is heart-wrenching. As workforce development advocates, we ride this emotional rollercoaster almost daily. We recognize that the stress of it all can negatively impact our personal lives and can even have a ripple effect on worker outcomes. It’s one reason why we partnered with Jobs for Future and Path Group to explore Improving Job Quality for Frontline Workers. We cannot serve our community from an empty cup.

This is why “self-care” must be a verb, an active practice.

A crucial part of living a full life is having room to work, play, and rest. With our Director, Rob Hope, leading by example, we are prioritizing the importance of self-care through sabbaticals – extended breaks away from professional work. This June, as Rob takes time to connect with his family, nature, and community, we are following in his footsteps and taking a break from your inbox!

We know that this is a privilege, still, we encourage you to make some space, no matter how long, to disconnect so that you can better reconnect. While our communication may be less frequent this month, know that we are recharging, refueling our passion, and renewing our commitment to ReWorking the Bay into a just economy that serves everyone!

See you in July!

In Community,Brianna + Rob

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Time after time after time, nothing has shown itself to be more powerful than a group of people dedicated to changing the world. Watching the Oakland Education Association use their collective bargaining power to advocate for teachers reminds us of the immense strength of solidarity. Unionizing and labor strikes are crucial tools in the fight for equity and justice in our communities. They give us the space to collaborate and the capacity to demand better for ourselves, our families, and the future.

In this spirit, nearly 50 years ago, in San Francisco’s Chinatown, 135 workers at the Jung Sai clothing manufacturing factory embraced their collective power. They organized against the discriminatory and abusive labor practices upheld by management, Esprit De Corp, including harms like toilet paper rationing, wage withholding, and wrongful termination. Workers at the factory were primarily Chinese immigrant women who spoke little English. As such, management felt very comfortable intimidating and abusing them, thinking the workers would remain silent about these harms as they needed to keep their jobs.

What started with four brave workers distributing and collecting union cards would grow into a national conversation about fair working conditions. Seventeen months later, their efforts resulted in a successful lawsuit, the founding of the Chinese Progressive Association (one of our Equity at Work Council members), and a blueprint for successful community organizing that informs our work today.

As we seek to ReWork the Bay, we must remember that our greatest strength is in each other and the power we hold when we move in solidarity. Building a Bay Area that works for everyone will take the work of everyone. Join us in solidarity, and let’s fight for a future where we all can live full lives with security, dignity, and agency in our work, home, and communities.

In Community,
Brianna and Rob

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In 2021, President Joe Biden declared April as “Second Chance” month for formerly incarcerated persons who have reentered their communities. This is an opportunity to recognize the challenges they face and celebrate how our Bay Area community shows up in ensuring everyone has the tools they need to (re)build full lives with dignity, security, and agency in their work, home, and communities.

Over 600,000 people are released from incarcerating institutions every year. Despite having served their time, the stigma of a criminal record can hold future opportunities in confinement indefinitely. This stigma impedes access to employment, housing, higher education, civil duties, community support, and more. While one of the goals of the justice system is to reduce recidivism, the lack of support for people returning to their communities sparks a devastating cycle that can lead to future involvement in the justice system.

We cannot build whole thriving communities rooted in equity and joy without second chances. The work of welcoming our neighbors back home is crucial to building a Bay Area that works for everyone.  We are so grateful for organizations like our Equity at Work Council members,  Creating Restorative Opportunities and Programs (CROP) and Rubicon Programs for their efforts to create a Bay Area that invests in people over punishments. Through their advocacy and outreach, initiatives like Ready 4 Life and the Richmond Reentry Success Center have helped rebuild communities, reunite neighbors, and restart lives.

This month, we join CROP in encouraging you to educate yourself about the challenges people face with reentry. Help us advocate for Second Chances. After achieving healing and rehabilitation, people who are formerly incarcerated should have the same opportunities as everyone else to earn a family-sustaining wage, live in safe and secure housing, and be recognized for their true and whole potential as a human being.

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Threading the Past into the Present – ReWork the Bay March Newsletter

My eight-year-old daughter has been learning math in her second-grade class, and I am frequently getting questions like “what happens when you multiply a negative?” Unfortunately for my daughter, I have forgotten a lot of what I learned in grade school math classes (not my favorite subject). Having said that, I do know what happens when you multiply a negative. It becomes an even bigger negative number.

At the beginning of 2023, after four months of offering hospice care in our family home, I said goodbye to my paternal grandmother, who raised me. During her healthy years, she tended to our family in all the grandmotherly ways that you would expect. And as an immigrant who survived several wars in the Philippines, she was a resourceful and feisty lady.

Because of the ways she weaved the past and future together, history always seemed very present to me. Alive even.

Though, to be honest, it wasn’t until my grandmother passed away that I truly saw her as more than one-dimensionally, my grandmother. Unpacking boxes in her closet, I am seeing glimpses into how fully she lived as an immigrant worker, a colleague, and a union member. In fact, I found a treasure trove of receipts to her union membership dues for the Hotel and Restaurant Employees and Bartenders International Union AFL-CIO from 1978 that ranged from $16-25 each month. Buried close by was the 1986 United Garment Workers of America Constitution. There were photos of her and her coworkers smiling in the break room, celebrating each other’s life milestones like engagement parties and birthdays. I also found an album full of photos documenting a work-sponsored trip from a raffle winning that brought her and my grandfather to Los Angeles, CA for the 1984 Summer Olympics!

For nearly 20 years, she proudly worked at Levi Strauss until she retired to take care of her 18 grandchildren…or so they say.

When I take a step back and think of the conditions of our economy at that time, I also am suspicious that her retirement from a localized union job may not have been her choice. This time period was a turning point: it paralleled the disappearance of the garment industry in San Francisco and its outsourcing to overseas factories where labor standards were weak.

My grandmother made choices with the conditions she had to face. One thing is very clear to me as I look at what has been left behind from her paid working days: her job was more than just a job. It gave her a path toward financial independence. It was a source of community. It was a place where her skills were cultivated and shared.

Today, I walk by Levi’s Strauss Plaza as I stroll across the Financial District toward our offices. And I feel my grandmother’s spirit. And her coworkers. And I know that there are so many stories that are untold about their struggle and resilience as they faced exploitation and repression.

The past is not far behind us and, in fact, lives on through us. I realize that my grandmother’s work life is so intertwined with mine. For many reasons, I would not be where I am without her.

The labor movement continues to this day and is facing intensified conditions of globalization and financialization that my grandmother and her coworkers were beginning to see emerge over 20 years ago. From Hello Fresh workers in Richmond, CA, to Amazon workers in Staten Island, NY, workers are standing up as collectives against their big corporation bosses, despite systematic attacks on their livelihoods. Even more broadly, Bargaining for the Common Good is organizing a longer-term vision that brings together community and union members to win a future where we all thrive. These are the legacies that we steward, and they are alive in us through the choices we make together every day.

As for me, I am leaving the ReWork team with the biggest of smiles, knowing I will be carrying this forward into my next chapter. Ultimately, I wonder: what will we be able to tell our future descendants of the conditions we faced and how we responded?

-Sulong (“Onwards” in Tagalog),
Kayla, Brianna, and Rob

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