Funders for a Just Economy: Network Strategy Session
“Interlocking Issues of Precarious Work”
March 26-28, 9:30-12:30pm PT/ 12:30-3:30pm ET
NFG’s Funders for a Just Economy Program invites you to join us for our annual Network Strategy Session!
The Network Strategy Session brings together members and allies in a virtual community building, co-learning and strategy space. Every year we aim to learn from movement leaders on a specific theme or issue related to economic justice and worker power, grounded in a collective understanding of how racial capitalism, white supremacy and corporate power impacts our laws and policies, and how the philanthropic community can show up in partnership with transformative movements.
Our aim here is to build more bridges, share stories and perspectives, provoke new questions and integrate learnings into actions that shift grantmaking and build toward more collaboration or complementary work across the FJE network.
This is a dynamic community of learning and practice - and it is our goal to bridge funders across issue areas from immigrant rights, democracy, health, and climate with worker power and economic justice funders in our network. We want to move beyond the silos in which philanthropy often operates, and we hope you can explore this with us.
So whether you just signed up for the newsletter, you’ve only gone to one other FJE event, or maybe you are one of our fabulous, committed long-term members, we welcome you!
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This year’s theme is “Interlocking Issues of Precarious Work.” Precarious is used to refer to a type of work that is poorly paid, unprotected, and insecure; and its relentless and systemic expansion is undermining the bargaining power and the conditions of all workers. The erosion of decent work has extended in industries beyond those that have codified precarious conditions in their model like care work, rideshares, food systems, logistics and warehouses; and into healthcare, media and entertainment, construction among others. This practice continues to spread- and women, people of color, low-income communities, migrants and people with disabilities are disproportionately impacted by these industry shifts.
Emerging from a deep history of racist labor practices dating back to enslavement and sharecropping, workers today in many sectors of the economy are forced to carry the brunt of this coordinated and proliferating practice of exploitation to maximize profits, limit liability for corporations, and lock out more and more workers from benefits, quality jobs and economic security.
Funders for a Just Economy is gathering members and allies at our Network Strategy Session to learn about:
- How labor flexibilization and precarity impacts all workers
- How workers are fighting back and are winning historic regulations in local and state levels
- Discuss how we can align our funding practices with the visions and aspirations of movement partners.
Format and what to expect:
The Network Strategy Session will be held virtually over three days on March 26-28, 9:30-12:30pm PT/ 12:30-3:30pm ET
For this virtual learning environment, we will try our best to be accessible and participatory. We will go through cycles of deep listening, reflection (individually), discovery (with others) and planning. Come prepared to interact with others in small group settings.
We encourage you to join us for the full Network Strategy session if able, but you are welcome to join for whatever portion(s) align best with your interest and schedule!
Day 1: Tues, March 26
- Worker Listening Session
- Session 1: Temporary Work, Ongoing Exploitation: How Workers and Advocates are Tackling the Temp Industry
- Small Group Conversations (Funder only space)
Day 2: Weds, March 27
- Session 2: Industry-wide Shifts and Corporate Move toward Gig Workers
- Session 3: History of Labor Conditions in the Context of Racial Capitalism
- Small Group Conversations (Funder only space)
Day 3: Thurs, March 28
(Funder only space)
- Funder Reflections
- Small Group Processing
- Closing
Session Descriptions:
Session 1: Temporary Work, Ongoing Exploitation: How Workers and Advocates are Tackling the Temp Industry
Temp staffing, a $186 billion dollar industry, is responsible for employing over 14 million people in the U.S., touching virtually every industry. These often-permanent temporary jobs are characterized by low wages, pay inequity, wage theft, unsafe working conditions, rampant discrimination, and a lack of benefits & job security. Hear directly from workers as they share their experiences working in the temp industry and from advocates as they discuss their ongoing efforts to expose the disparate impact temp staffing has on workers and communities of color, strengthen enforcement and pass legislation to protect temp workers’ rights.
- Munira Edens, Philly Black Worker Project
- Rosalia Tenorio, Chicago Workers Collaborative
- Reynalda Cruz, New Labor
- Lorraine Sands, Grassroots Law & Organizing for Workers
- Dania Rajendra, board member of Grassroots Law & Organizing for Workers
Session 2: Industry-wide Shifts and Corporate Move toward Gig Workers
Following the history of gig work and diminishing worker protections on the job, we’ll talk about how whole industries are shifting and adopting “gig work” (W2 and 1099) to increase profits and lockout more and more workers from benefits, quality jobs, and economic security, and how workers are impacted by these industry shifts. On this panel we will hear from advocates and worker organizers who are building the power of gig workers across sectors nationally and in California; learn about a historic win for more than 65,000 app-based food delivery workers in New York City and the new challenges they face; and explore the deep linkages between public health and worker power to transform our economic system.
- Lili Farhang, Human Impact Partners
- Ligia Guallpa, Los Deliveristas/ Worker's Justice Project
- Lauren Jacobs, PowerSwitch Action
- Marianna Porras, Gig Workers Rising/Working Partnerships USA
Session 3: Temp and App-Based Work in the Context of Racial Capitalism
- Veronica Avila, Action Center on Race and the Economy
- Saqib Bhatti, Action Center on Race and the Economy
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We would like to thank our Organizing Committee members for supporting this event:
- Holly Bartling, Worker Justice and Dignity Fund
- Maritza Silva Farrell, Ford Foundation Future of Work(ers) Program
- Adrian Haro, Workers Lab
- Marjona Jones, The LIFT Fund
This program is for funders and philanthropic advisors whose primary activity is grantmaking. Staff from philanthropic networks are also eligible to join. Please email Leanne Sajor, Director for FJE at leanne@nfg.org for any questions.
Event Details
When
Mar 26, 2024 - Mar 28, 2024
9:30 am - 12:30 pm PT
Where
Virtual
Posted 02/07/2024 in