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Dear allies,
Save the date for the Salt of the Earth Awards and Fundraiser 2023! Each year, Community Labor United honors individuals and organizations who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to improving the lives of working-class families in Greater Boston and throughout the Commonwealth.
This year, for our Salt of the Earth Awards, we are honoring individuals and organizations who champion the voices of working people, advocate for systemic change and drive progress in our communities. We hope that you will join us in recognizing the efforts of this year’s awardees and in celebrating their work. An event registration link is coming soon!
2023 Salt of the Earth Award Recipients:
President Steve Tolman, Massachusetts AFL-CIO
María Belén Power, Undersecretary of Environmental Justice and Equity for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Boston Union Trade Sisters
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Below you will find opportunities to engage and continue the fight on many issues that affect our communities and allies. Please spread the word by sharing our Facebook posts as well as following and retweeting us on Twitter. You can sign up here to receive regular updates from CLU.
In solidarity,
Community Labor United
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Lobby Day: MBTA riders and workers for a low-income fare!
Join us at our Lobby Day action at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 13 for an important conversation on the future of our public transit system. Together, we can make transit affordable for working families across the Commonwealth.
To make transit affordable for all riders, we are urging the MA Legislature to:
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Maintain the funding for a low-income fare program at the MBTA included in Governor Healey’s budget, using dedicated transportation revenue from the Fair Share Amendment.
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Pass legislation to ensure a low-income fare is permanently available to riders. Join us by asking your legislators to cosponsor and support H.3373 An Act relative to low income transit fares and S.2231 An Act establishing a program for low income fares.
Lobby Day
Thursday, April 13 | 12:30 – 2 p.m.
Massachusetts State House Grand Staircase, 24 Beacon St, Boston, MA
Take action to win a low-income fare with Public Transit Public Good.
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News
MBTA staff present plans for Low-Income Fare implementation, signal affordability as new budget priority
Public Transit Public Good – 3/23/23
Transit riders and workers, community leaders, and members of the Public Transit Public Good (PTPG) coalition joined forces to speak out for the implementation of a low-income fare system during the MBTA’s Board Meeting on Thursday, March 23.
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Sign our petition: Give working parents more child care options!
Family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) providers offer trusted child care close to home, especially very early and late in the day, for thousands of families in Massachusetts. Sign our petition to support our bill to increase FFN provider pay to the state minimum wage and make child care vouchers more flexible for parents who choose FFN care! Read our bill summary to learn more about expanding access to family, friend and neighbor-provided child care. Sign our petition today!
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In Case You Missed It: Job and Child Care Fair
Last month, Care That Works coalition hosted its first-ever local event to connect parents with both job opportunities and nonstandard-hour child care, as well as to recruit child care providers to our Pilot program to provide care before 6 a.m. With rising costs, ongoing staffing shortages, and not nearly enough child care providers, working parents across the state scrape by when it comes to their child care arrangements. We’re proud that the Job and Child Care Fair offered a unique solution to the child care crisis that supports working families pursuing careers in high-demand industries like the union-construction trades, and helps promote gender equity in the workplace. Thank you to our incredible partners who helped make this event possible! Learn about our program at WCVB.
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Care Workers Recognition Month
We’re thrilled that the Biden Administration is recognizing the contributions of care workers by proclaiming April as Care Workers Recognition Month! Care jobs are job-enabling jobs, making it possible for millions of Americans to pursue their careers to support their families while providing a safe and nurturing environment for their children. Care workers are the backbone of our economy. We honor their extraordinary contributions and commit to supporting them with better pay, better benefits, and the recognition they deserve.
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News
Child care pilot program focuses on Massachusetts parents with off-hour schedules
WCVB – 3/24/23
A new pilot program is providing childcare options to parents, who don't work the traditional 9-to-5 job. The program is being partially funded by $100 million in state grants.
3 Ways States Can Expand and Sustain the Infrastructure Workforce by Meeting Child Care Needs
Center for American Progress – 3/29/23
Unions and community organizations have also developed a variety of efforts to address child care needs for infrastructure workers in the construction industry. In Boston, Care That Works, a pilot program that organizes child care for those with “nonstandard schedules,” connects construction workers to child care and provides partial subsidies to care providers who operate during early, nontraditional hours.
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Save the date: #WeStillCan’tBreathe Rally 2023
On May 2nd, join the Green Justice Coalition and allies at Dudley Cafe in Boston for our annual rally on Asthma Justice! In Massachusetts, low-income and communities of color have a high prevalence of asthma and are disproportionately impacted by pollution and climate change. This free event will feature health professionals, legislators, and inspiring grassroots leaders who are working to improve the health of Massachusetts’ environmental justice communities. RSVP today!
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CLU and our partners are seeking experienced individuals to join our teams! If you know a social justice leader who is looking for a new role, please send them our way.
Organizing Director, Community Labor United
Care That Works Senior Organizer, Community Labor United
Visit our website today to view all job opportunities: MassCLU.org/Careers.
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Take action to restore critical Chapter 257 eviction protections
Last month, Massachusetts state legislators allowed Chapter 257 to expire – a vital tenant protection law that stopped unjust evictions by preventing judges from making a final eviction order while a tenant had a pending rental relief application with the statewide program: Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT).
Join the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless and Massachusetts Law Reform Institute in urging state legislators to take swift action to restore critical eviction protections. Email your legislator today!
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Join us for our annual Workers' Memorial Day
Please join us for a powerful event this Workers' Memorial Day. At the event, we will honor workers who were killed, injured, or suffered from illness on the job and press for strong workplace health and safety protections for all workers so that one day this event will no longer be needed. Please email [email protected] and RSVP today.
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Save the date: International Workers' Day Actions 2023
Join us on Monday, May 1 to commemorate International Workers’ Day and to fight for a living wage, democracy and equity for all our communities! We’ll gather in East Boston at 4:00 p.m. at Liberty Plaza and at 4:30 p.m., we’ll start walking towards Chelsea to the main event at Chelsea City Hall. The Chelsea program will start around 5:15 p.m. and includes keynote speakers, entertainment, and music. Learn more and RSVP today!
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Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) 5K Run & Walk fundraiser
Join the Chinese Progressive Association on Saturday, May 20 to celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month with an AAPI 5k run and walk at Carson Beach in South Boston! The run will highlight the vibrant Asian American community and organizations that work year-round to create a safe and welcoming space. The event will fundraise for incredible AAPI non-profits helping to kick off the first day of AAPI month. Proceeds from the run will benefit local AAPI non-profits. Learn more and RSVP by May 5th for early registration!
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GreenRoots: 8th Annual Evening on the Creek
Join GreenRoots at their largest fundraiser of the year, the 8th Annual Evening on the Creek. The fundraiser event is happening at 99 Marginal Street Chelsea, next to PORT Park from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, June 9 and will feature live music by Clave and Blues, food from local restaurants, and lots of dancing! The fundraiser is providing the resources to help GreenRoots implement our community’s vision of environmental justice, community power, and improved quality of life and health. This year, funds raised will help to secure 17 acres of vitally important waterfront land at the Forbes Site; launch Chelsea’s first Teaching Kitchen and expand their urban agriculture and food justice work; and create new waterfront parks all while empowering our community and fostering new leadership. Learn more, become a sponsor, and purchase a ticket today!
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Solidarity with MIT Cafeteria & Catering workers
Last week, over 90% of MIT Cafeteria & Catering workers signed a petition to show they are United for a Fair Contract! Workers and supporters marched to deliver the petition. The MIT Cafeteria & Catering workers have been organizing and mobilizing for a fair contract with their employer, Bon Appétit Management Company, for several years now. The workers, who are represented by UNITE HERE Local 26, are fighting for living wages, affordable healthcare, more affordable meal plans, and better working conditions. We stand in solidarity with MIT Cafeteria & Catering workers in their fight!
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2023 Legislative Priorities
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As the MA legislative session continues, we're committed to supporting legislation to advance transit justice, equitable child care, family-sustaining work, environmental justice, a just transition to clean energy, and more.
Learn about the bills Community Labor United supports on our website and join our fights: MassCLU.org/Join-Our-Fights/.
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