East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy (EBASE) is a left-of-center organizing and policy organization based in Oakland, California. It is a member of the Economic Analysis and Research Network, a coalition of left-wing policy organizations created by the labor-union-aligned Economic Policy Institute. These organizations advocate for economic policy changes on a local level.
EBASE advocates for fair development, good jobs, immigrant rights, and faith organizing.1 Working with labor-union-backed campaigns like Fight for $15 and Lift Up Oakland, EBASE advocates for raising the California minimum wage. EBASE and its religious organizing arm, Faith Alliance for a Moral Economy (FAME), are part of the Raise the Roof coalition that advocates for immigrants’ rights in the East Bay area.
Campaigns
Minimum Wage
EBASE is part of a larger left-wing advocacy network that campaigns for increased minimum wages throughout the East Bay and California. In conjunction with the Lift Up Oakland coalition, EBASE put Measure FF on the 2014 ballot, which raised the minimum wage to $12.15 an hour in the city of Oakland.2 Continued efforts by EBASE and labor-union-backed campaigns like Fight for $15 secured legislation to increase the California minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2022.3
While EBASE touts the rise in wages as a win-win situation for businesses and workers, many businesses saw a large increase in labor costs that led to a reduction in workers’ hours and in some cases, layoffs. Some businesses were forced to increase their prices or shorten their hours of operation to make up for their rise in labor costs, ultimately resulting in a loss of business.4
Immigration
EBASE is part of the Raise the Roof coalition, which advocates making Concord, California a “sanctuary city” that does not assist federal immigration enforcement authorities. It supported an “inclusion resolution” in Concord City Council, providing a safe place for immigrants, denouncing hate speech, and limiting cooperation between local police and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).56
Religious Organizing
EBASE reinforces its organizing efforts with the Faith Alliance for a Moral Economy (FAME). This component of their organization brings together religious leaders to further support EBASE’s advocacy campaigns.7
Funding
Numerous labor unions have provided funding for East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy. Department of Labor reports show that the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, local and state affiliates of the Service Employees International Union, the SEIU-aligned union federation Change to Win, the East Bay Organizing Committee associated with the SEIU-led Fight for $15 campaign, and local and state affiliates of a number of other labor unions have funded EBASE.8
Left-wing foundations also support EBASE: Notable contributors include the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the California Endowment, the Thomas J. Long Foundation, the Marguerite Casey Foundation, Surdna Foundation, and the California Wellness Foundation.9
Coalition Memberships
Alameda County United in Defense of Immigrant Rights (ACUDIR) (Non-profit)
Bay Resistance (Non-profit)
Economic Analysis and Research Network (Non-profit)
Faith Alliance for a Moral Economy (FAME) (Non-profit)
Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity (IM4HI) (Non-profit)
The Oakland Citywide Anti-Displacement Network (Non-profit)
Oakland Rising (Non-profit)
Partnership for Working Families (Non-profit)
Protect Oakland Renters (Non-profit)
Raise the Roof (Non-profit)
Revive Oakland (Non-profit)
Donor Organizations
California Endowment (Non-profit)
East Bay Organizing Committee (Labor Union)
Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund (Non-profit)
Hidden Leaf Foundation (Non-profit)
Kapor Center for Social Impact (Mitchell Kapor Foundation) (Non-profit)
Marguerite Casey Foundation (Non-profit)
McKay Foundation (Non-profit)
Partnership for Working Families (Non-profit)
Public Welfare Foundation (Non-profit)
Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment (Non-profit)
Rosenberg Foundation (Non-profit)
San Francisco Foundation (Non-profit)
Schwab Charitable Fund (Non-profit)
Solidago Foundation (Non-profit)
Surdna Foundation (Non-profit)
W. K. Kellogg Foundation (Non-profit)
Zellerbach Family Foundation (Non-profit)
Board of Directors
Danielle Mahones, President, Bay Area Black Worker Center
Andreas Cluver, Vice-President, Building and Construction Trades Council of Alameda County, AFL-CIO
Larisa Casillas, Secretary-Treasurer, Urban Habitat
Annette Bernhardt, Labor Center, University of California, Berkeley
Brandon Sturdivant, National People’s Action
Yvonne Williams, Alameda County Labor Council, ATU 192
Sanjay Garla, SEIU United Service Workers West
Ty Hudson, UNITE-HERE Local 2850
Reverend Sandhya Jha, Oakland Peace Center
Reverend Kurt A. Kuhwald, Faith Alliance for a Moral Economy
References
- workingeastbay.org. Accessed July 23, 2019. http://workingeastbay.org
- Levin, Sam. “The Push for Oakland’s Progressive Ballot Measures.” East Bay Express. October 8, 2014. https://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/the-push-for-oaklands-progressive-ballot-measures/Content?oid=4092063
- Siders, David. “Jerry Brown signs $15 minimum wage in California.” The Sacramento Bee. April 4, 2016. https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article69842317.html
- Saltsman, Michael. “Oakland minimum wage hike burdens businesses, hurts employees.” California Political Review. April 10, 2005. http://www.capoliticalreview.com/top-stories/oakland-minimum-wage-hike-burdens-businesses-employees/
- workingeastbay.org. Accessed July 23, 2019. http://workingeastbay.org/whats-new/immigration-wins-coco-county/
- Barone, Valerie. “Considering adoption of Resolution No. 17-73 affirming the City of Concord’s commitment to being a welcoming, inclusive, tolerant, and supportive community for all.” September 26, 2017. Accessed July 23, 2019. https://www.cityofconcord.org/DocumentCenter/View/360/Staff-Report-and-Adopted-Resolution-PDF?bidId=
- workingeastbay.org. Accessed July 23, 2019. http://workingeastbay.org/fame/
- Data compiled by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Labor-Management Standards from Annual Reports of Labor Organizations. Queries conducted July 31, 2019.
- Data compiled by FoundationSearch.com subscription service, a project of Metasoft Systems, Inc., from forms filed with the IRS. Queries conducted July 31, 2019.