The Institute is credited with making a critical contribution to moving the project forward and it continues to do so. The Working for America Institute seeks to expand these efforts across company and industrial boundaries. In the heart of California's Silicon Valley, the South Bay Labor Council is enhancing union effectiveness and improve working conditions by working with its nonprofit arm, Working Partnerships USA, and building solid community alliances and ongoing structures. Despite its golden image, average earnings for most Silicon Valley workers have fallen as living costs skyrocketed. Temporary work is widespread and a growing number of workers receive few benefits and have limited advancement opportunities.
Unions are weak and confined to a few sectors.
Using a solid base of economic research and planning, a heightened community presence, and enduring alliances, the Council is attacking the problems on many fronts. They are pursuing workplace modernization efforts in the unionized public sector, resulting in increased efficiency and improved relations with local officials and extensive worker participation. They are also educating union and community leaders about labor and economic issues, researching the local economy to identify points where Working Partnerships USA could usefully intervene, and supporting workplace redesign. This also puts competitive pressure on local temp agencies to raise pa y and benefits for all workers.