Can Silicon Valley help expand the middle class?

A coalition of unions and activists hopes to turn Silicon Valley into a model for the national fight against inequality

Silicon Valley
(Image credit: (Ikon Images/Corbis))

In many ways, Silicon Valley is a microcosm for the rise of American inequality and the hourglass economy. But last week, it also became the arena for a new effort by labor and workers' groups to push the industry and the country towards an alternative future.

Santa Clara Valley, which the tech industry calls home, is a study in contrasts. Santa Clara and San Mateo counties boast median incomes of $91,702 and $88,202, respectively — well above California's $61,094 and the nation's $53,046 — and the valley was one of the first regions to emerge from the recession.

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Jeff Spross

Jeff Spross was the economics and business correspondent at TheWeek.com. He was previously a reporter at ThinkProgress.