Dear friends,
 

As we close out this week, we look back to reflect on the recent wins for our communities. The Supreme Court’s decision prohibiting discrimination at the workplace based on sexual orientation and gender identity and its ruling to stop President Trump from immediately ending DACA are both steps that reflect just how far our communities have come. Our recent victory in Massachusetts defeating the Single Sales Factor tax break legislation is a step in the right direction and prepares us for a just recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.  

As we celebrate these victories, we celebrate Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day. There is more work to do to end racism and as we acknowledge the pain and suffering of the Black community and demand action, we see it as a reminder of what people can do when they come together. We will no longer be told that what we deserve is not possible. We reject the funding of practices, policies, or personnel that create danger for Black people and deprive our communities of what the privileged have long enjoyed in this country: basic rights, safety, and freedom. Through participatory governance and budgeting processes that engage and invest in underserved communities, we can work together to design a future that does not rely on police and punishment. Racism is rooted in our systems and institutions, and to truly bring an end to these attacks, means ending the systemic racism that has, for too long, held back our Black brothers and sisters from being equals. Community Labor United, our labor and community partners are fighting alongside our Black communities to demand and affect this change.

We did it! No expansion of the Single Sales Factor corporate tax break!

Since March, labor and community groups have raised our voices against a tax break expansion for multi-state corporations operating in the Commonwealth. Billionaire corporations and their lobby groups, including Santander, State Street and Associated Industries of Massachusetts hoped to cash in on the expansion of the Single Sales Factor (SSF) tax cut beyond its current limits via two legislations. But we knew expanding the tax cut could cost the Commonwealth billions, and would line the pockets of big businesses without keeping jobs in state.  

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, our Commonwealth needed new revenues to support public education, transportation and other public goods. Today, with plummeting revenue and sky-rocketing needs, new tax cuts for wealthy corporations are more illogical than ever. That is why we opposed two bills that would expand SSF. Since mid-March, hundreds of people have told legislative leadership that the bills should not be passed.  

We definitely have more work ahead of us to ensure state revenues meet COVID-era needs. But with the defeat of SSF expansion, we’re off to a good start. Read our blog post here to learn about the next steps.

MBTA Racial Justice & Police Brutality Petition

We continue to fight for racial justice and against police brutality. While we are grateful the MBTA has discontinued the practice of use MBTA buses to transport police officers (other than MBTA police) to and from racial injustice demonstrations, we know that there is much more work to be done. Transit is a public good and necessity at all times. The T must remain a safe and reliable provider of access for all, whether through the course of a public health crisis or during lawful protests. Freedom of movement is a human right. 

We are calling on MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak, MassDOT Secretary Stephanie Pollack, Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB) Chair Joe Aiello, and all FMCB members to commit to implementing the six actions to advance racial equity and police accountability within our transit system. Read about the actions here and sign our petition.

You can help us promote these efforts to your network by sharing our Facebook posts or by following and retweeting us on Twitter. You can also receive regular updates from CLU by signing up on our website. 

If there is a topic we should feature in our weekly communications, please email Lindsay McCluskey at [email protected]. 

Thank you for reading!

In Solidarity,
Community Labor United