Weekly Labor Reader, August 30, 2019
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Thursday morning at 1:00am, members of Teamsters Local 25 who work at Republic Services in Marshfield went on strike. After six months of negotiating for their first contract, the company has stopped bargaining in good faith and talks have stalled.
Republic has posted record profits, but they refuse to provide the employees creating those profits with good pay and decent benefits. The Marshfield office serves the towns of Rockland, Abington, and Marshfield.
Members of Teamsters Local 25 and their allies will be picketing at the Marshfield location (965 Plain Street) 24/7 until a deal is reached. Join fellow union and community members and show solidarity on the picket line! Follow Teamsters 25 on Facebook or Twitter for frequent updates.
Labor Day is almost here and that means the start of the political season.
Please click here for a list of municipal preliminary dates and to see the current list of AFL-CIO endorsed candidates. The first preliminary is September 3rd!
September 3: Lynn
September 10: Quincy, Revere, Somerville, Springfield, Worcester, Newton
September 17: Braintree, Brockton, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Framingham, Malden, Melrose, Methuen, Salem
September 24: Boston, Chelsea, Fitchburg, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Taunton
Buy Union Made This Labor Day!
Happy Labor Day! We at the Massachusetts AFL-CIO hope you enjoy your long weekend and celebration of working people. If you’re having a cookout, check out this shopping list to buy union!
On September 25th - 27th, 2019, over 200 delegates and guests will gather for the Biennial Constitutional Convention of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO.
***Hotel Rooms in the MA AFL-CIO block are available from the MGM through Monday, September 9, 2019. After that date the rooms will be released for a higher rate. Please book now.***
The Convention theme of unity will be reflected throughout the proceedings, from resolutions, to keynote speakers, to panels.The convention will feature keynote speakers, David Webber and Steven Greenhouse. Webber is the author of "The Rise of the Working Class Shareholder: Labor's Last Best Weapon," and will sign copies of his books for attendees. Greenhouse is a New York Times Reporter and author and will be speaking and signing copies of, “Beaten Down, Worked Up - The Past, Present and Future of American Labor Movement."
The Convention is not open to the public and is closed to the press. Affiliated unions in good standing should have received their credentials by mail. Registration is due by September 10th. For more information and to download the delegate and guest registrations, click here.
Western MA ALF's Launch
Thank you to all who made it to last week’s Western Mass Area Labor Federation launch. Nearly 150 union leaders, rank and file members, and non-union workers from over 35 different unions and community groups came out strong to support this new labor body. It’s clear that solidarity is building and on the move in Western Mass!Our WMALF is committed to working together to build grassroots power and coordination across unions to win fights for all workers. Together we can rebalance the scales in favor of working people of Western Mass! To stay up to date with the Western MA ALF, follow them on Facebook or sign up for email updates at their website.Part-Time Health and Safety Trainer
The Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (MassCOSH) is a nonprofit organization that works to ensure that all workers are treated with respect and dignity, earn a fair wage, and return home to their families alive and well. They educate and mobilize workers, unions, and community activists to advocate for and promote a healthy and safe workplace.
MassCOSH Is hiring a part-time trainer to develop and deliver health and safety trainings.
Register for Union Member Candidate School
September 2: Greater Boston Labor Council Labor Day Breakfast
September 2: Central MA Labor Day Breakfast
September 2: Boston Labor Day March
September 2: Bread and Roses Heritage Festival in Lawrence
September 4:Health, Wellness,& Recovery, Boston
September 6: Western MA Area Labor Federation's Labor Day Breakfast, Chicopee
September 14 : Helmets to Hardhats Motorcycle Run
September 19: Building Pathways Awards Benefit, BostonSeptember 25-September 27: MA AFL-CIO Convention, Springfield
October 3: UMass Lowell Labor Education Presents Automation and You
October 15: Tradeswomen Tuesday Worcester
October 23: BTU Union Blood Drive
For a full list of events, visit the calendar on our website. If you have any events that you would like to be included, contact Rachael Running at rrunning@massaflcio.org
@1199mass: The PCA bargaining committee joined with @MassGovernor Charlie Baker & the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to celebrate ratification of their new contract. The new contract raises wages, expands paid time off, and much more. Congrats on a job well done! #WeCareForMA