While AI often grabs headlines, the cause of sluggish wage growth and worker struggles lies elsewhere. For decades, policy decisions have shifted power dramatically in favor of employers, diminishing the leverage of typical workers. Stagnant wages and rising inequality stem from these policy choices, not technological advancements.

Key changes, such as the waning strength of unions, stagnant federal minimum wages, and shifting macroeconomic policies, have eroded workers’ bargaining power. Historical data shows that productivity growth, driven by technological change, has not been associated with higher unemployment or inequality. Instead, these issues arise from an extreme power imbalance between employers and workers.

The Biden Administration has acted to harness the potential risks of AI by directing the Department of Labor to create Principles for Developers and Employers when using AI in the workplace. These principles aim to ensure AI technologies benefit workers, protect their rights, and prevent biases in decision-making processes. They emphasize worker empowerment, ethical AI development, transparency, and responsible use of worker data.

The Department of Labor’s principles emphasize worker empowerment, ethical AI development, human oversight, transparency, protecting labor rights, enabling workers, supporting those impacted by AI, and ensuring responsible use of worker data. These guidelines help businesses harness AI technologies while fostering a fair and equitable work environment.

To support workers, policymakers must strengthen social insurance systems, remove barriers to union organizing, and maintain accessible employment. These actions will empower workers to claim the benefits of technological advancements, including AI, and restore equitable growth in the labor market.

In a study by the Economic Policy Institute, it was found that AI and automation are likely to increase the productivity of workers but may also exacerbate existing inequalities in the labor market. The report highlights how AI technologies, if unregulated, could lead to job displacement, wage suppression, and increased surveillance of workers. It is crucial that the principles set by legislative bodies address these potential issues by ensuring that the benefits of AI are shared broadly among workers, not against.

Join us in advocating for stronger workers’ rights and examine how these principles are implemented by exploring our Systems Change Projects. Let’s work together to shape a future where technological progress uplifts workers and fosters inclusive economic growth.

In Solidarity,

​​​​​​Brianna, Janelle, + Rob

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In addition to celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride and Juneteenth this month, we observe both International Domestic Workers Day and International Sex Workers Day, two crucial dates that highlight the often-overlooked contributions of marginalized workers. These observances highlight the urgent need for labor justice, especially for those who face systemic inequities and are frequently excluded from federal protections.

Domestic workers, many of whom are women of color, are critical to the smooth functioning of our households but often work without the security and benefits they deserve. Despite their vital role, they remain excluded from federal workplace laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act. This exclusion leaves millions without minimum wage or overtime protections, underscoring a significant gap in our labor system. Organizations like the National Domestic Workers Alliance and our Equity at Work Council members, the Chinese Progressive Association and the California Domestic Workers Coalition, are on the front lines advocating for the rights and protections of these workers. They strive to secure fair wages and safe working conditions, ensuring these essential workers receive the recognition and support they deserve.

Similarly, sex workers face significant challenges, including legal stigma, unsafe working conditions, and a lack of rights and recognition within the workforce. International Sex Workers Day reminds us of their ongoing struggle for dignity and equality. Red Canary Song, a grassroots collective of Asian and migrant sex workers, exemplifies the fight for sex worker rights. Lavender Phoenix, builds transgender, non-binary, and queer API power in San Francisco. Their efforts are crucial in advocating for policy changes and providing necessary support for these marginalized workers. Additionally, resources from organizations such as the Bay Area Workers Support, the ACLU of Southern California’s Know Your Rights for Sex Workers, the Transgender Law Center, and the Sex Workers Project play a pivotal role in this movement, offering guidance and protection for sex workers.

It must be acknowledged that we are amidst a historic uprising of worker power in the United States. Across the nation, workers who have long been marginalized are organizing, joining unions, and striking for fair wages and better working conditions. This movement is particularly led by Black workers, who have historically been sidelined in labor rights but are now driving significant victories and systemic changes.

Philanthropy plays a critical role in this context. By supporting labor justice, we advocate for fair treatment and better conditions while simultaneously addressing racial justice. Black workers, who have been at the forefront of the labor movement, are key to achieving economic equity. Their leadership and resilience pave the way for a more just and inclusive economy. As stated plainly by the Nonprofit Quarterly, philanthropy must support labor justice.

Why Support Matters

Labor justice is racial justice. By centering the needs and experiences of Black workers and other marginalized communities, we create better workplaces and economies for all. Philanthropic support can amplify these efforts, funding initiatives that ensure good jobs, fair pay, and safe conditions.

Historically, philanthropy has not fully engaged with the labor movement. However, supporting worker-led organizations, particularly those led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), can drive transformative change. Examples include successful union drives, community benefits agreements, and partnerships advocating for fair wages and conditions.

Call to Action

As philanthropists, we have a unique opportunity to be on the right side of history. We can help dismantle systemic inequities and build a more equitable economy by funding worker organizing and supporting labor justice initiatives. This June, let’s commit to supporting the workers leading the fight for justice and equality.

To join us and get involved, please visit ReWork the Bay. Together, we can ensure that all workers, regardless of occupation, enjoy the dignity, security, and agency they deserve.

In Solidarity,

​​​​​​Brianna, Janelle, + Rob
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In the last six years, we’ve witnessed significant shifts in U.S. economic policy, from trade agreements to the global pandemic response. While there’s been historical movement towards protecting American workers and industries, contemporary social policies have lagged, reflecting outdated ideologies. Nowhere is this disparity more apparent than in federal workforce development systems, which still bear the marks of decades-old thinking. Despite noble intentions, current approaches often fail to address structural imbalances in power between workers and corporations, perpetuating cycles of inequality.

New America delves into the entrenched beliefs shaping workforce development policies and their implications for job seekers. It underscores the urgency of reevaluating our approach to job training, job placement, and worker empowerment. At Rework the Bay, we champion economic justice and equity, and this article resonates deeply with our mission. It prompts us to rethink how we design workforce programs, ensuring they prioritize workers’ needs, rights, and dignity.

While challenges persist, there are promising initiatives, like the Good Jobs Collaborative, aiming to reshape the narrative around workforce development. Our very own Building Worker Power program is changing the traditional working landscape and amplifying the voices and needs of workers. These efforts offer a roadmap for a more inclusive and effective workforce system by centering economic justice, advancing equity, and amplifying worker voices. As Congress considers reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, there’s an opportunity to enact bold reforms prioritizing workers’ welfare. Join us as we navigate this critical juncture in shaping the future of work with equity and justice at the forefront.

In Solidarity,

​​​​​​Brianna, Janelle, + Rob

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Just as nature sheds old layers to make way for new growth, ReWork the Bay sheds the outdated norms of top-down decision-making. Since its establishment 20 years ago as the Bay Area Workforce Funding Collaborative, ReWork the Bay has shifted to share the power of philanthropy with community and its proximate leaders to guide the way toward an economically just and inclusive future.

Once a conventional funder collaborative, ReWork the Bay has turned the institutional philanthropic paradigm upside down by empowering community leaders who intimately understand the social challenges we aim to address to decide how our resources are deployed. Who knows better what works, what doesn’t, and what’s possible than people who are most proximate to the work?

This is not just a different way of talking about philanthropy, or a tweak to our system to bump up our grantee satisfaction survey scores. We are reshaping philanthropy from the ground up, and we’re doing it because we’ve seen the harm caused by status quo philanthropy. The path to the future we seek demands that philanthropy evolve from transactional, one-way transfers of resources to strategic, transformative partnerships between philanthropy and community.

To be clear, we know from personal experience that while this change in approach will increase impact, it does not make philanthropy easier, cheaper or faster (at least not at first). And because it requires challenging long-held norms and practices, some visible and some not, it helps to have peers and supporters walking alongside foundations on their transformative journey to act as sounding boards, confidants, and accountability partners when needed.

One way ReWork the Bay provides this support to funders pursuing this kind of transformation is through Funder Communities of Practice (CofPs). In March, we launched our third Funder Community of Practice. Not merely a program, the CofP is part rallying call, part seminar series, part peer support group.

Through a series of five sessions, participants engage in an expertly-facilitated cohort program that fosters both individual learning and collective action. We encourage transparent and vulnerable discussions on racial equity, recognizing the historical context of racial capitalism that continues to shape our society.

This year’s series of CofP sessions is focused on worker organizing and unions—a topic fraught with complexities, especially when viewed through a racial and gender justice lens. Historically, unions have played a significant and critical role in winning job quality improvements and labor protections, yet skepticism of their inclusivity, particularly among communities of color, understandably persists.  While most traditional unions did exclude people of color and women in the past, many unions are investing considerably in diversifying their membership. In jobs where workers aren’t unionized (and women and people of color tend to be concentrated), there are also new forms of worker organizing emerging, led by communities of color and grounded in their experiences. Worker centers, such as the National Domestic Workers Alliance, provide essential support to low-wage workers of color, often addressing labor law violations and advocating for their rights.

What place might worker organizing have in a well-rounded economic mobility funding strategy? What education, relationships and data do I need to not only understand this conceptually, but to actually make the case to move resources? These are the kinds of questions this year’s CofP will grapple with, with the support of other grantmakers, proximate leaders and other experts.

Our CofP empowers funder participants with more expertise, practical tools and broader networks to drive meaningful change. By challenging preconceived notions and fostering critical dialogue, we create a space where funders can find inspiration to engage with communities directly and let them lead the way in determining how resources should be invested.

It’s time for philanthropy to recognize that those who understand the challenges best should be the ones making decisions over resources impacting their lives. Because it’s the right thing to do, but more importantly, because we need that expertise to overcome the daunting challenges facing our communities today. Together, through initiatives like our CofP, we can work towards a more equitable and empowered future for all.

April, a pivotal month in the environmental calendar, symbolizes a global call to action for Earth Day, reminding us of our collective responsibility to safeguard our planet and foster a sustainable future. Although lesser known, April 28th commemorates the World Day for Safety and Health at Work. These observances underscore our shared responsibility to protect our planet and highlight the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of all workers.

Earth Day, founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970, emerged as a powerful grassroots movement to raise awareness about environmental issues and galvanize action on a national scale. The inaugural Earth Day sparked a monumental shift in public attitudes and paved the way for landmark ecological legislation that shaped our nation’s environmental policies. The Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Environmental Protection Agency were all established in the 1970s in response to the awareness brought about by the establishment of Earth Day. April 22nd has grown into the largest secular civic event in the world, with over 1 billion people participating.
Cardboard sign stating climate justice now.

Similarly, the International Labour Organization’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work is a global platform to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases. This year’s theme, focusing on the impacts of climate change on occupational safety and health, underscores the urgent need for collective action to address the intersection of environmental sustainability and workplace safety. This year’s theme is highly fitting, as 2023 was one of the warmest years on record. A year marred by record deaths for those who work outdoors with little to no legal safeguards, and indoor workers are facing increased opposition to protections.

At our first Community of Practice session for the year, our cohort discussed the history of labor organizing and its ties to environmental justice. We defined terms pertinent to organizers and discussed the Green New Deal and the interconnection between unions and eco-equity. The Jacobin does a superb job espousing the need for unification between labor and climate activists, using Todd E. Vachon’s book Clean Air and Good Jobs as a case study.

As we commemorate Earth Day and World Day for Safety and Health at Work, we reaffirm our commitment to creating inclusive and sustainable workplaces where the well-being of both workers and the environment are prioritized. Together, let us continue championing initiatives that foster a safer, healthier, and more equitable future for all.

In Solidarity,

​​​​​​Brianna, Janelle, + Rob

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As we commemorate Women’s History Month, we reflect on women’s pivotal role in shaping the labor movement and advancing equity and inclusion in the workforce. Women were excluded from the labor movement for too long until it became clear that progress could only be achieved when all voices were heard and valued.

Moments of upheaval have often served as catalysts for women to organize and advocate for change. Take, for instance, the suffrage movement and the Triangle Shirtwaist fire tragedy in 1911, which claimed the lives of 146 primarily young immigrant women in New York. These events galvanized women to mobilize for safer working conditions and the right to vote, ultimately leading to the passage of the 19th Amendment and increased union membership. Similarly, the wave of women entering the workforce during and after World War II and the women’s liberation movement in the late 1960s and ’70s paved the way for significant advancements in women’s rights and workplace equality. These pivotal moments changed the course of women’s involvement in the workforce, helping to pass equal pay legislation and propel women into leadership roles across various industries.

As we celebrate the contributions of visionary leaders like Ai-jen Poo, Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, and Dolores Huerta, we recognize that women have not only helped rewrite the history of unions, but they are also paving the way for the future. Ai-jen Poo has revolutionized the landscape for domestic workers, leading the National Domestic Workers Alliance and advocating for policy reforms to protect vulnerable workers. Similarly, Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher has blazed trails as the first woman and person of color to serve as Chief Officer of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, championing landmark laws on paid sick leave and farmworker protections. Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers Association, has dedicated her life to advocating for farmworkers’ rights and the Chicano civil rights movement, leaving an indelible mark on history.

According to an article in The 19th, studies have shown that unionization benefits women more than men, eliminating factors that fuel pay disparity and empowering women in negotiations for fair pay and benefits. As we move forward, it is critical to continue to have women represented at all levels of union activity, ensuring that their voices are heard and valued in shaping a more equitable and inclusive workforce for all. In commemorating Women’s History Month, let us honor women’s pivotal role in shaping the labor movement and driving progress toward equity and inclusion in the workforce.

In Solidarity,

​​​​​​Brianna, Janelle, + Rob

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In 1915, Carter G. Woodson laid the foundation for this month of recognition, driven by the imperative to include the often-overlooked contributions of Black Americans in the American narrative. Over a century later, we are still unveiling the depth and breadth of these stories, particularly within the dynamic realm of the labor movement. This Black History Month, we pay tribute to the trailblazing Black leaders who pioneered the labor movement, shaping the landscape of employment rights for generations.

While many know the historic struggles for civil rights for Black Americans, most are unaware that many organizers and activists who championed those rights were heavily involved in the labor movement. Take Bayard Rustin who was the chief architect of The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. His contributions were indispensable, although he was overshadowed in history because he was a gay man.  Nonetheless, the march was a resounding call for labor rights within the civil rights movement, acknowledging the inseparable link between economic and civil justice. Black leaders were always keenly aware of strength in numbers, unity, and workers’ voices.

Enter the trailblazers—Nannie Helen Burrows, A. Phillip Randolph, and Lucy Parsons. Parsons strategically organized labor strikes in the late 19th century. In 1866, she co-founded the Working Women’s Union, breaking racial barriers by later integrating her union to include white women. Nannie Helen Burroughs, a luminary in education and activism, envisioned a future where economic empowerment was synonymous with justice. Founding the National Training School for Women and Girls in 1909, she sought to equip Black women with the tools to navigate a world where their voices were heard, not silenced. A. Philip Randolph, a pioneer in the labor movement, laid the groundwork in 1925 by founding the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters—the first formally recognized Black-led labor union. His tireless efforts opened doors for greater equity in the labor landscape, emphasizing that a voice in the workplace was the catalyst for broader societal change.

At ReWork the Bay, we echo these leaders’ equitable praxis at work and recognize that giving employees a voice is not just a policy but a commitment to the legacy of those who paved the way for a fair and just society. As we honor the contributions of these American giants, we vow to continue their endeavors for a more equitable Bay Area. Join us in this journey, where every voice is heard, every story is acknowledged, and progress is a collective endeavor. Here’s to a February of celebration, education, and a renewed commitment to an inclusive future.

In Solidarity,

​​​​​​Brianna, Janelle, + Rob

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Welcome to 2024, a year brimming with possibilities and opportunities for positive change! 2023 saw major shifts towards collective worker power and employees advocating for their rights nationwide. As we step into this new chapter, we can’t help but feel the excitement and energy of creating our Year of Unity. A fitting title to honor our twenty years of championing equity for all in the Bay Area.

This year, we’re not just marking time but making it count. With a renewed focus on collective worker power and an unwavering commitment to our mission, we’re gearing up for impactful initiatives. Our upcoming strategy launch is set to redefine how we champion quality and empowered employment, ensuring our work aligns seamlessly with our core values. The Building Worker Power report, born from vital partnerships with workforce training programs, will spotlight their invaluable contributions to our community.

But that’s not all—enter our Funder Community of Practice, a space that embodies the spirit of participatory philanthropy. This year, we’ll explore the critical role of worker organizing and organized labor in economic justice. While we introduce new elements, our steadfast dedication to bringing statewide job quality remains unwavering.

As we embark on this exciting journey, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our supporters, advocates, and community partners who have been instrumental in our 20-year journey. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to equity, collaboration, and pursuing a Bay Area where everyone can thrive. Here’s to 20 years of impact and many more ahead!

In Solidarity,

​​​​​​Brianna, Janelle, + Rob

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The year 2023 is almost officially over, and what a year it has been for worker’s rights. As of October, there have been over 300 documented strikes, comprised of over 453,000 workers, doubling the number from 2022. Almost half a million people organized and protested for their rights as employees. In California alone, the healthcare workers, hospitality employees, teachers, and both actors and writers’ unions collectively took to the picket lines for their respective causes. The most rewarding part is that there were so many wins. The efforts are paying off, and things are changing for the better. This is only the beginning. Hot labor summer transformed into a season of solidarity and, up next, a year of unity. We recognize this work is a marathon, not a sprint, and we are fully committed to continuing the job.

We also acknowledge that work of this magnitude requires rest; rest as resistance. So take some time to reflect on the strides made this year, on the power reclaimed, the voices heard, but most of all, take some time to recuperate. We invite you to carve out a moment, no matter how brief, to intentionally unplug as the year concludes. While our messages may be less frequent in the coming weeks, rest assured that we are revitalizing, reigniting our enthusiasm, and reaffirming our dedication to fostering a more equitable Bay Area economy. We will see you in 2024, energized and ready to make an even bigger impact in the Bay.

For ways to get involved click here.

In Solidarity,

​​​​​​Brianna, Janelle, + Rob

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