WAGES (Women's Action to Gain Economic Security)
Rating: 5 stars 19 19 reviews 3,112
Address:
1904 Franklin Street Suite 801 Oakland CA 94612 USA
Mission:
WAGES’ mission is to build worker-owned green businesses that create healthy, dignified jobs for low-income women. In our cooperatives, women gain good jobs, develop new skills, become leaders in their communities, and increase their economic security.
Results:
Over the past decade, WAGES has built four successful green housecleaning cooperatives serving the Bay Area that have given hundreds of women the opportunity to become financially secure, gain business skills, and lead healthier, fuller lives. Overall, co-op members earn 50-100% more than they would make working for a conventional cleaning company, and on average, their household incomes have increased by more than 50% since joining a WAGES affiliated co-op. Most have health and dental insurance, along with other benefits through the co-op, and members build assets through their retained earnings held within the business. The co-ops also prevent the release of thousands of pounds of harmful chemicals into our air and water each year. The two largest co-ops average 30 members each and 1 million in annual sales.
Target demographics:
Since 1998, WAGES has focused on creating jobs for Latina immigrant women, who become members of housecleaning cooperatives that use environmentally friendly cleaning techniques to protect worker health and the environment, while building stable, lucrative businesses.
Geographic areas served:
San Francisco Bay Area
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Reviews for WAGES (Women's Action to Gain Economic Security)
34 people found this review helpful
WAGES is an absolutely amazing organization doing very important "green jobs" work. They provide low-income women the training and support they need to form and operate successful worker-owned, environmentally-responsible cleaning cooperatives. WAGES clients are empowered to control their own destinies. They own their business, earn living wages, have health insurance for themselves and their families. WAGES trains coop members in environmentally preferable cleaning practices, using non-toxic products that have been carefully screened. This approach protects the workers and their clients from exposure to toxic chemicals, and reduces environmental impacts. I became aware of WAGES because two of the coops they formed, Natural Home Cleaning Professionals and Eco-Care Professional Housecleaning, became certified by the program I coordinate, the Bay Area Green Business Program. To be certified, Natural Home and Eco-Care had to demonstrate what they were doing to prevent pollution, conserve energy and water and reduce waste at their office and job sites. The women who operate these businesses are knowledgeable, skillful and motivated to provide excellent, environmentally-friendly service. That is a great testimony to WAGES, the organization that prepared them to succeed.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
seeing the confidence, pride and enthusiasm WAGES coop workers/owners exhibit when speaking about their businesses and their work.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Provide scores of low-income women with the wherewithal to improve their own lives, while offering superior, environmentally-responsible services to customers interested in greener cleaning.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2008-9-01
32 people found this review helpful
WAGES is great, providing a valuable service to its clients and participants. i plan on using them in the future. go wages!
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If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
dignified and skilled
Ways to make it better...
i had learned about them sooner
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
One thing I'd also say is that...
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009-1-01
32 people found this review helpful
WAGES helps low income women improve their lives and their livelihood, through green jobs. WAGES seeds cooperative businesses in which women are worker owners, get benefits, make a decent salary, and protect the environment -and their health! by using eco-friendly cleaning products. I understand that most of these women more than double their income by becoming worker-owners of their own cleaning businesses. How cool is that? WAGES deserves to be the winner of the "green choice contest" as they are helping the planet every bit as much as they are helping deserving, hard working women. Go WAGES!
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I have met some of the women that WAGES has helped become worker owners of their own eco-cleaning businesses, and they speak very highly of WAGES' impact in their lives. To me, this is the best, most significant testament of what WAGES does.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
I have the utmost respect for WAGES' unwavering, mission-driven commitment to help improve the lives of the people they serve through their ingenious eco-friendly cleaning co-ops model. This organization, every single day, has a direct positive impact in the lives of many hard-working women. I believe in what they do, and I believe in the people involved in carrying out that mission.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
The people there are simply awesome, although there are a few new staff whom I haven't met yet. I don't doubt they are every bit as great as the rest.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
I think they would be able to replicate the model and bring more positive change into the lives of more persons, while sparing the planet a huge amount of toxins. If you have 10 million to spare, don't think twice. Give it to these folks!
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009-4-01
33 people found this review helpful
I have been a professional working with worker cooperatives for 15 years, and two of their most common challenges are the inability to balance mission with business savvy and failure to replicate. WAGES addresses both of these challenges head on in a spectacular way. It creates vibrant cooperative businesses that fulfill a strong environmental, social, gender, and racial justice mission. It also has replication built into its structure: expect to see green women-owned worker co-ops showing up in your region before long!
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
cooperative circles, Latino community.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
be busy looking for more board members.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the competence and passion of staff and other board members.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
engaged, sincere, and focused on getting the mission accomplished.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
make this country greener and more just by creating a HUGE network of green women-owned businesses.
Ways to make it better...
we all could have foreseen the economic crisis and planned for it.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
trying to nurture businesses in a difficult economy.
One thing I'd also say is that...
umm.... that's about it.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009-4-01
33 people found this review helpful
This is an amazing organization that has created very innovative ways for Latinas to own their own business and reduce pollution from household chemicals. I got to know WAGES 8 yeas ago and am inspired but their leadership connecting environmental and economic justice. Their impact promoting non-toxic cleaning and educating not just the cooperative members but their clients and other women. I have been happy with the excellent quality services and impressed with the confidence and team work that the women have.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the women's economic situation has improved they are creating a new business model
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Want to be more visible in general, including in the Latino community
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the strategic thinking ability and long term vision and dedication
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Very smart and professional and creative - this is new ground they are plowing in both economic and environmental fields
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Help them expand more quickly and teach others about the business model - it could be used in so many more contexts to help low-income workers
Ways to make it better...
I could afford to use them more!
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
fundraising and staff retention in the recession
One thing I'd also say is that...
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009-4-01
25 people found this review helpful
I started volunteering with WAGES in early 2009 and it has been a wonderful experience for me. Through volunteering with Wages I have learned so much about coops and the many benefits of being a worker owner-from additional job security, health benefits, and empowerment. I'm learning tons and excited to continue volunteering with WAGEs!
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
sustained financial and personal empowerment benefits for the worker owners of mature Wages affiliated coops, as well as witnessed the opening of a new San Francisco Coop!
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
keep up the good work
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
hearing the worker owners stories and enthusiasm around coops
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
knowledgeable and passionate
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
help incubate green cleaning coops around the country and create wide spread change within the cleaning industry- an industry were sadly quite a bit of exploitation and pollution take place.
Ways to make it better...
Im still a relatively new volunteer, I look forward to working more with this organization in the future.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
They have big goals and a small staff, financial constraints are always a challenge for small non profits
One thing I'd also say is that...
Eco-Friendly, Worker Friendly and the cleaning service is great quality- I have nothing but good things to say about what I have seen from Wages and their affiliated coops so far.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009-4-01
25 people found this review helpful
The folks at wages didn't stop at just reforming home cleaning, they're now gearing up to create healthier and more fair conditions for those who clean the commercial sector! Their enthusiasm and commitment to help and assist others whose voice isn't as strong (or as understood, due to language barriers) is admirable and inspiring. As a commercial real estate advisor and local building owner, I'm thrilled at the opportunity to hopefully help such a great organization of passionate and skilled people.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the hope conveyed by the people they've helped.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
increase exposure to get the word out there.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the passion and commitment of its members and employees.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
enthusiastic.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
expand into other much-needed markets.
Ways to make it better...
I had been introduced to WAGES earlier.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
how to explain briefly all the good work they're doing.
One thing I'd also say is that...
WAGES is proof that a company doesn't need to be directly in GreenTech or the Green Collar industry to be able to make a positive impact on both the earth and everyone on it.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009-3-01
24 people found this review helpful
I think WAGES performs two important roles supremely well. It educates not only the women who clean with environmentally approved products but also the owners whose houses they clean. Secondly by creating a role of ownership for the women who belong to and run these organzations, it gives them them the dignity they have every right to have.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the fine reports I have read in its excellent newsletter.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009-1-01
28 people found this review helpful
WAGES helps create and support the development of sustainable business which enable women to work with dignity and control over their own futures. The business that I have most familiarity with is Natural Home Cleaning which not only does an excellent job with green house cleaning, but also empowers the coop members to run their own business and participate in the decisions that impact their work.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
creating and sustaining living wage job that promote dignity and empower workers.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
my interactions with the members of their coop, Natural Home Cleaning.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
motivated, excited about their mission, and committed to fostering the self-sufficiency of the cooperatives.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009-2-01
28 people found this review helpful
We have an old enamel "Wedgewood" stove, well-used but no longer the glowing white it once was. I never saw it so clean as when we had WAGES-trained and -organized cleaners here. The whole house breathes a sigh of relief after they come through.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
our home, and in our cohousing neighborhood's Common House on a regular basis.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
more aggressively market the green aspects.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
knowing that the workers are working for themselves, not some impersonal/arbitrary employer.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
friendly, helpful, ready to get to work
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
expand the model to additional regions and make it a viable choice.
Ways to make it better...
they weren't so busy so I had more choice in scheduling.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
inertia and a declining economy limiting discretionary household spending.
One thing I'd also say is that...
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2008-12-01
