Dear allies, 

Each year we recognize May Day, a celebration of the men and women of the labor movement and the efforts of those who are fighting on the ground every day for fair wages and safe working conditions. Today, we stand in solidarity with working families in Massachusetts and beyond, and continue our fight for equity and justice for all. 

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

Executive Director–NEW, BEST Hospitality Training

Director of Operations,  Massachusetts Jobs With Justice

Assistant Director, Chinatown Community Land Trust

Transit Justice Organizer, GreenRoots

Communications Director, City Life / Vida Urbana

Director, Homes for All Mass

Join us for the 2022 Salt of the Earth Awards
Our annual Salt of the Earth awards event is swiftly approaching, and we are pleased to honor the dedication of individuals and organizations advocating for working families throughout the region to build a broad-based social justice movement. Our fights today are a part of a long history of struggle and resistance.

Community Labor United’s Salt of the Earth Award takes its inspiration from the 1951 Empire Zinc strike by Mexican-American members of the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers Local 890, which was commemorated in the 1953 film, Salt of the Earth.

This is not just a story of workers successfully fighting for safer working conditions, but the film is also a complex tale that provides real lessons for our movement today. It shows how women’s leadership brought community needs to the forefront of a worker’s struggle and ultimately saved the strike; it shows the challenges of multiracial, multilingual organizing against those who deliberately attempt to divide us; and it shows how a community can be strengthened and power can be won by many sectors of society coming together to fight for justice. 

We hope that you will join us to recognize the individuals and organizations leading the way to shape an equitable future for all. 
 

Welcome, Theresa Strachila! 
We are excited to welcome Theresa Strachila as the newest member of our team. Theresa joins Community Labor United as the new Care That Works Pilot Coordinator. Theresa’s commitment to social justice has led them to diverse roles in program management, education, community outreach, volunteer engagement and fundraising. Prior to joining CLU, Theresa supported food justice through urban agriculture and sustainable farming with a focus on food access. Please join us giving them a special welcome!

United for an affordable MBTA fare!
On April 25, the Public Transit Public Good and Transit is Essential coalition held a press conference to advocate for affordable and equitable transit at the MBTA and RTAs. The event was joined by City of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, community and labor advocates, and riders. Thank you to those who attended and those who continue to uplift our fight for a transit system that works for all!

Learn more and sign our petition at Public Transit Public Good. Follow @PTPGCoalition on Twitter to stay updated with the latest information.

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Our communities urgently need a low-income fare system
We know that MBTA riders desperately need a public transit system that is affordable and equitable. H.4481, An act relative to low-income transit fare, responds to long-standing calls from riders, who struggle to get to and from their jobs, school, and other destinations because of the strain of extra costs put on them. It's time to make the MBTA a system for all and prioritize accessibility, affordability, and equity.

"Public transit systems across the country right now are having to rethink how they fund these systems because the pay as you go model hasn't been working to be able to maintain our trains for a long, long time," Wu said.

Read the full article at WCVB.

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Next Stop - No Ticket to Ride Virtual Panel
On Wednesday, May 4 at 6:00 p.m., WGBH will be holding a discussion on transit access and affordability with Bob Seay. Lee Matsueda, CLU’s Executive Director, will be joining with Mela Miles, Alternatives for Community & Environment's Transit-Oriented Development Director, and Noah Berger, Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority Administrator to highlight the urgent need for accessible fares. Implementing fare-free or reduced-fare programs would increase mobility and reduce the financial burden on passengers. Join us for the panel to learn about how these programs would make our communities more equitable.

To learn more and register for the virtual event, visit WGBH.

You’re Invited: May Day Actions Across Massachusetts
On May 1, community leaders, allies, and local organizations will be holding a number of events in recognition of May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day. We encourage you to join us to stand in solidarity with workers at actions across the region. 
 

Boston
1:00-2:00 p.m., Boston Common
115 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116

Chelsea and East Boston 
2:30-3:30 p.m., Chelsea City Hall
500 Broadway, Chelsea, MA 02150

Lynn
2:00-2:30 p.m. and 3:00-4:30 p.m., Lynn City Hall
3 City Hall Square, Lynn, MA 01901

Northampton
 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Pulaski Park
240 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060
 

For additional May Day events and further info, visit Action Network.

Green Justice Coalition’s #LetUsBreathe Virtual Rally 2022
On May 3, join the Green Justice Coalition and allies for our annual virtual rally on Asthma Justice! In Massachusetts, communities of color have a high prevalence of asthma and are disproportionately impacted by pollution and climate change. Now more than ever, we need to fight for clean air, affordable transit, and equitable legislation that will address our health and environmental concerns. This free event will bring to light the expertise of health professionals, legislators, and inspiring grassroots leaders who are working to improve the health of Massachusetts’ Environmental Justice Communities. Learn how you can take action on these intersecting issues on World Asthma Day!
 

#LetUsBreathe Virtual Rally 2022
Tuesday, May 3 | 5:00 p.m.
Register today

Urge the EPA to Protect Our Communities from Chemical Spills
Our communities need access to clean drinking water, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed new guidance to ensure this essential resource is protected. The new rule would require facilities storing hazardous chemicals to produce response plans in the event of a spill. Without current regulations of this nature, more than 3,000 communities are at risk. Our partners at Clean Water Action are calling for the EPA to take action to protect the drinking water that our communities rely on.

Learn more and submit your comments by May 27 at Clean Water Action.

Take Action: Support Housing for All!
In the midst of Massachusetts’ housing crisis, rent continues to climb and affordable options grow sparser by the day. Whether you may be a renter or homeowner, everyone should be able to afford housing in the neighborhoods they call home. Our partners at Neighbor to Neighbor are fighting to promote accessible housing and stop pricing residents out of their homes. Learn more and sign the pledge to support affordable housing for all at Neighbor to Neighbor.