The living wage is a simple but powerful concept: workers should make
enough to support themselves and their families. Over the last several
decades, new jobs have increasingly paid lower wages, good paying jobs
are disappearing and the minimum wage buys less now than it did in the
1960’s. In response to this trend, EBASE has championed higher wages
and working standards by passing living wage laws throughout the East
Bay.
Living Wage laws:
Raise wages for all workers—even those not directly covered by a living wage law
Provide access to healthcare
Ensure public money doesn’t create poverty jobs
Provide workplace protections and ensure workers aren’t unfairly retaliated against
The
principle behind living wage laws is simple: public money should be
used for the public good, and businesses benefiting from that money
should be required to provide decent, family-supporting jobs. Living
wage campaigns pass local policies requiring private businesses that
receive taxpayers’ money to pay a wage that allows workers to live
above the poverty line. These laws commonly apply to businesses that
hold large city or county service contracts, receive public subsidies,
or occupy public land.
Since 1998, EBASE has partnered with
several dozen labor and community organizations in powerful coalitions
to raise a progressive voice for economic change and win living wages
for Berkeley, Emeryville, Hayward, Oakland, the Port of Oakland, Richmond, and San Leandro.
In addition, EBASE has raised workplace standards at the Port of Oakland. EBASE played an instrumental role in the creation of the Maritime and Aviation Project Labor Agreement, which significantly increased access to $3 billion worth of Port-related construction work for Oakland residents; successfully sponsored a ballot initiative that created living wage and labor standards requirements for 3,000 workers at Airport and Seaport businesses; and advocated with the Port to incorporate these employment standards into the Request for Proposals (RFP) for Oakland Airport concessions, a campaign that parallels our current one to clean up Port trucking.
The Campaign for Clean and Safe Ports The Coalition for Clean and Safe Ports is campaigning to transform the Port trucking industry and hold the Port of Oakland accountable for its impacts on workers, neighboring communities and public health.
