WAGES | Women's Action to Gain Economic Security

WAGES builds green businesses that create healthy, dignified jobs for low-income women. We launch cooperatives where women develop personal and professional skills, become leaders, and gain economic security.

For 15 years, WAGES has worked with low-income immigrant Latinas to launch green business cooperatives, a model that enables women to work together to succeed. As co-op members, women have healthy work, good pay, and a voice and a vote in key decisions – and they distribute business profits equitably. WAGES provides training and technical assistance to incubate the co-ops and a framework for continued learning and business growth through our Co-op Network.

Every co-op member:
• Earns fair pay – household incomes have increased by more than 70%.
• Shares business profits – co-op equity builds assets for members’ families, with members at mature co-ops accumulating more than $3,500 in equity on average.
• Visits her doctors – the co-ops provide health insurance and other benefits.
• Protects the environment – 2000 Bay Area households use our green cleaning services each year.

Specialties

Cooperative Business Development, Community Economic Development and Asset-Building, Eco-Friendly Housecleaning, Immigrant Economic Development