Working Partnerships USA

Join us tonight at 6:00pm for a Vigil in front of San José City Hall as we mourn those we lost as a result of yesterday’s tragic VTA light rail shooting: Abdolvahab Alaghmandan Adrian Balleza Alex Ward Fritch... Jose Dejesus Hernandez III Lars Kepler Lane Paul Delacruz Megia Timothy Michael Romo Michael Joseph Rudometkin Taptejdeep Singh If you would like to donate to support San Jose’s gun violence victims and their families and communities, text VTA to (408) 549-9525 or go to https://act.wpusa.org/vta_victims_support_fund

The dominant narrative around the Future of Work suggests that a robot apocalypse is coming to take all the jobs. But automation isn’t the whole story, and potentially isn’t even the most important aspect of how work is changing if you are concerned about worker’s prospects in the future. Join ReWork the Bay, Jobs with Justice SF, and Working Partnerships USA as we unpack these questions and share recommendations from the field with the launch of our report, Power is at the... Root: How Funders and Workforce Leaders Can Center Workers in the "Future of Work". The culmination of a two-year process which included gathering input from Bay Area funders, worker advocates and grassroots organizers, this launch will feature conversation with California-based leaders to discuss how key themes from our recommendations interplay with their day-to-day work. Featuring: Sheheryar Kaoosji, Executive Director, Warehouse Workers Resource Center Tim Rainey, Executive Director, California Workforce Development Board Fred Blackwell, Chief Executive Officer, San Francisco Foundation Register today by visiting https://bit.ly/3f5VE7d Access links during the show: https://linktr.ee/powerisattheroot

As we continue to receive new information about this morning's tragic workplace shooting at the Younger Light Rail station, many have asked how to help at this time. Donations in support of San Jose’s gun violence victims and their families and communities can be made here:

We’re heartbroken to hear the news this morning of a mass shooting at the VTA light rail yard. As we monitor the situation, our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all VTA workers.

Santa Clara County residents ages 75 and older are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine! While our communities continue to be hit hard by the pandemic, the vaccine provides hope that our families will soon be healthy and safe from the virus. For more info on who can receive the vaccine, contact your medical provider or visit sccfreecax.org Los residentes del condado de Santa Clara de 75 años o más ahora son elegibles para recibir la vacuna de COVID-19. Mientras que nuestras comunidades continúan siendo afectadas por la pandemia, la vacuna brinda esperanza de que nuestras families pronto estarán sanas y a salvo del virus. Para obtener más información sobre quién puede recibir la vacuna, comuníquese con su proveedor médico o visite sccfreecax.org

Yesterday, the Santa Clara City Council voted unanimously to extend the Right of Retention policy a key step towards protecting working people hit hard by the pandemic. This local law protects the people working subcontracted service jobs by ensuring that they are given the option to keep their job when a company switches contractors. Now, these protections are being extended to hotel workers as well, to ensure they will not be arbitrarily fired if their company changes ha...nds. This win is a direct result of years of organizing and continued community support, including the many of you who sent emails to the Council in the past few weeks. Thank you to the Mayor and Council for their unanimous support to extend this policy and for continuing to stand with working people. [Image description: Text reads ‘Santa Clara hotel workers’ win marks big step towards an inclusive COVID-19 recovery. Yesterday, the Santa Clara City Council voted to extend the Right of Retention policy.’ Text is white, background is blue.]

UPDATE: City of Santa Clara is voting on expanding the Right of Retention policy to hotel workers TOMORROW, 1/12!

As we look back on all that 2020 has brought us, our hearts are heavy with grief and anger. Working people of color have faced the brunt of unprecedented crises in our economy, our public health, our climate, and our larger systems of justice and governance. And yet, when we consider all that our movement has fought for and won this year, we are deeply hopeful for the future. With every phone call to a loved one, food drop-off for a neighbor, testimony shared with elected le...aders, and socially distant action in the streets, we are already building the economy we need - one based on shared prosperity and a firm belief in the value of our people’s wellbeing over corporate profit. While certain politicians attempted to divide us through fear and hate, our communities and our larger movements rallied together like never before. Through bold actions, we have declared again and again that none of us are safe until every one of our neighbors has what they need to be healthy. Together, we won groundbreaking policy victories and shifted public narratives on critical economic issues that will bolster our movement's power for years to come. From halting evictions in Santa Clara County, to ensuring that thousands of service workers across CA can return to their jobs, to building an unprecedented movement to reimagine how we invest in our schools and communities, and winning high-profile media coverage and support for app workers organizing against corporate greed - none of this would have happened without you. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that our strength comes from joining together, no matter what comes our way. So today, we are humbly asking you - our supporters, comrades, and allies - for your financial partnership to continue our critically needed work. Will you help us get ready for 2021 by making a donation today? act.wpusa.org/donate Let's keep building towards a more humane economy that honors the inherent dignity of ALL working people! #yearinreview artwork by the talented @felixfquintana

We are mourning the loss of a longtime member of our movement and our family. On Tuesday night, Janice Ferris passed away. Janice was our finance and HR director at Working Partnerships USA for many years. While she may not have always been on the front lines of our actions and organizing, her dedication powered our work behind the scenes. When we needed to hire 50 phonebankers in a week, owed her vital paperwork, or had any number of odd requests, she would first chastise us... and then make it happen. We will miss her dog Mia running around our office looking for dropped crumbs, and dearly miss Janice’s presence in our lives and our community. We are heartbroken but so grateful to have known this amazing mother, nana, lover of all things pop culture, finance whiz and simply good, loving person. Janice gave of herself for this movement because she believed in people, believed in all of us. Her family has put together a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses. If you can't give, the family asks "say a prayer, put on an MJ record and dance, or tune in Sunday for the Niner game and cheer along with her."

This election, a generation-defining set of propositions is on the ballot in California. We will decide whether multi-billion dollar corporations can buy our democracy, or if we will center the lives, voices, and needs of Black, indigenous, people of color, and women in our politics and our economy. Here are some of the key initiatives that will shape this foundation: YES on Prop 15: Schools and Communities First ... YES on Prop 16: Opportunity for All Yes on Props 17 & 18: Voting Rights No on Prop 20: Protect Criminal Justice Reform Yes on Prop 21: Keep Families in their Homes No on Prop 22: Protect Gig Workers Fight the Gig Sham We likely won’t know all the results on election night, but what we do in the next six days will shape the trajectory of our democracy for years to come. And no matter the outcomes, we will carry forward these fights for justice, and the collective power of our growing movement. We plan on leaving it all on the field every ounce of energy, fight, and hope. Read our full blog post:

Before you head to the polls, know your rights! Stay informed and be prepared. Together, we all can represent and make California proud. #repCA #repTogether

Voting in person can look different this year. Whether you are a first time voter or not, be prepared when you pull up to the polls. #repCA #repTogether

For the last 60 years, Dolores Huerta has been speaking up, raising hell and doing the work. Now it’s our time to follow in her footsteps and push for progress. To support the movements that activists like Dolores have started, we have to put the changes we want to see into law and that isn’t possible without voting. Take the march to the mailbox or an official dropbox and send your ballot back today!... #repCA #repTogether Photo by Nolwen Cifuentes

Snoop dog is a first time voter in California. Join him and register to vote at RegisterToVote.ca.gov It’s time for our voices to be heard!

Calling all women! Are you interested in a rewarding, hands-on construction career? Join our Santa Clara County Women in the Trades workshop to learn more about union construction careers and hear from Tradeswomen, Inc. Workshops wil be Oct 21 from 6-8 pm or Oct. 28 from 9-11 am. Sign up at www.wpusa.org/top.

' ... One study found that drivers would make just $5.64/hr under Prop 22. Prop 22 is about exploiting workers for huge corporate profits. Period. #NoOnProp22

Prop 22 was written by Uber & Lyft so they can pump up profits by denying their drivers basic rights and benefits. That's why hundreds of drivers are driving from San Diego to San Francisco TODAY to ask voters to stand with workers, not CEO's. Vote #NoOnProp22!

Un conteo exacto del censo significa: almuerzos para niños, calles más seguras en nuestro vecindario, fondos para centros de salud, y representación política justa. Pero algunos políticos están tratando de propagar miedo en nuestras comunidades para que no luchemos por lo que necesitan nuestras familias. Por eso, nuestro equipo va puerta a puerta para asegurarse de que todos en nuestra comunidad tengan los recursos que necesitan para completar su censo. Hasta ahora, ¡han toca...do más de 80.000 puertas! Telemundo 48 los acompañó el otro dia mira el video aquí.

We hit 80,000!! Our canvassers have knocked on 80,000 doors to get ALL of our communities counted this census. There’s 3 weeks left until the new October 31st deadline make sure you and your loved ones are counted. Head to my2020census.gov.

Over 50,000 doors knocked to get an accurate census count! Shoutout to our amazing team of canvassers who have been hitting the streets to make sure our communities are counted. The census determines resources in our communities and it’s critical we all take part. And, there’s still time to get it done the deadline has been pushed back to October 31st!! Make it count, flex your power & fill out the 2020 census.

Let’s make sure our community doesn’t get left behind. Head to www.my2020census.gov and make sure you represent your community by filling out your census today!