Dear allies,

On Labor Day, we joined the Greater Boston Labor Council, community and union leaders, elected officials, and UNITE HERE Local 26 hotel for a breakfast, march, and rally honoring workers and an eventful year for the labor movement. We also heard a special keynote from Vice President Kamala Harris. As Chair of the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment, Vice President Harris discussed the Administration’s commitment to empowering workers and the critical role of the labor movement in building a middle class.

“...when union wages go up, everybody's wages go up. When union workplaces are safer, all workplaces are safer. And when unions are strong, America is strong.” – Vice President Kamala Harris

This year, we have unified and become stronger, and we’ve won historic fights on both the local and national levels. Thank you to all who joined the breakfast, march, or rally to rejoice in the movement we’ve built, and to continue to take action, in solidarity with UNITE HERE Local 26 hotel workers from Hyatt Centric Hotel in Boston who are fighting for better working conditions including fair pay, affordable healthcare, and job security. Rain or shine, we’re building worker power all day, every day!

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. 
 

IATSE Local 11 is looking for additional workers to take on stagehand support at a variety of entertainment events this weekend! You must be 18 years or older to work. Local 11 welcomes people of any background and skill set. No prior experience is needed. If you are interested in a weekend job opportunity, please email [email protected].

Visit our website today to view all job opportunities: MassCLU.org/Careers.

We want to hear from you: Stay tuned for details on our forum about the Orange Line shutdown! 

––––––––––––––

Getting on board for a better MBTA: Principles to fix our public transit
Visit Public Transit Public Good’s (PTPG) MBTA shutdown resources page for help getting around during the Orange and Green Line shutdowns. On this resource page, you can learn about how we can fix the MBTA by checking out our policy statement and signing up to stay in touch with PTPG and our member organizations, and also check out the answers to common questions about the Orange and Green Line shutdowns!

Visit www.publictransitpublicgood.org to join us and take action!
 

––––––––––––––

Support student riders during the Orange and Green Line shutdowns
During the MBTA’s temporary shutdown of the Orange and Green Lines, Boston Public Schools and the City of Boston are looking for staff to serve as Safety Ambassadors to help students get to public transit safely during peak times in the morning and in the afternoon.

If you are interested, sign up for a shift or two to help guide students to their bus routes and make sure they make their way to the shuttles. You will also help to answer any questions students may have and facilitate a positive interaction between students and other commuters. All Safety Ambassadors will be offered virtual training during orientation, before the start of school.

Become a public transit Safety Ambassador today, and sign up here!

First Book Registration
The Boston Teachers Union (BTU) is sponsoring a Welcome Back to School Book Fair on Saturday, September 24. BTU is giving 40,000 books to students, educators, and the greater Boston community. Sign up with First Book today to get free and low-cost new books for children in your community!
 

Welcome Back to School Book Fair
Saturday, September 24
Get your First Book today!

Community forum: Air Pollution and its burdens on local communities
Join Mothers Out Front, our partners at GreenRoots and Clean Water Action, and Friends of Belle Isle Marsh for a forum on air pollution and its burdens on local communities on Thursday, September 29 at E.B. Newton School. Clean Water Action’s Executive Director Cindy Luppi and GreenRoots’ Lead Environmental Justice Organizer Layne Benton will discuss the impacts of air pollution on our health, especially as it relates to transportation emissions.
 

Forum: Air Pollution and its burdens on local communities
Thursday, September 29 | 6:30 – 8 p.m.
E.B. Newton School, Lyceum Room
45 Pauline Street, Winthrop MA

Registration Open: First ever ‘Women Build Boston Conference 2022’
Registrations are now open for the Greater Boston Building Trades Union’s first-ever Women Build Boston Conference on Saturday, October 8 at Encore Boston Harbor. If you or someone you know is looking to take a construction career to the next level, this conference is an incredible opportunity to learn from leading tradeswomen, network with fellow trades sisters, and find the support you need. All construction and building trades members are welcome!

For inquiries, please contact Brian Doherty, General Agent of the Greater Boston Building Trades Unions at [email protected].
 

Women Build Boston Conference 2022
Saturday, October 8
Click here to register!

Standing up for Amazon worker safety
Community Labor United joined more than 30 organizations in urging members of the U.S. Congress to convene a hearing on the Amazon warehouse safety crisis, and to hold Amazon CEO Andy Jassy and other company executives accountable for the dangerous labor practices that are causing thousands of injuries across the nation, including three worker deaths in July. The letter was sent to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Patty Murray and Richard Burr of the Senate’s Health, Labor and Pensions committee, and Bobby Scott and Virginia Foxx of the House Committee on Education and Labor.

“It is time for Amazon to learn, once and for all, that it is not above the law…“[W]e write to strongly urge your committees to exercise your oversight responsibility by convening a public emergency congressional hearing, and asking questions of the individuals responsible for the dangerous labor practices that are causing these injuries and deaths, including Amazon CEO Andy Jassy.”

Addressing the Amazon safety crisis is long overdue, and we will not tolerate the abuses that Amazon inflicts on its workers, nor will we let elected officials turn a blind eye. Learn more about the letter sent to the U.S. Congress on Forbes.

Community advocates and elected officials demand full access to voting rights
Last week, residents of Malden, elected officials, and advocates of the Asian and Pacific Islanders Civic Action Network (APIsCAN) held a press conference at Malden City Hall to inform Secretary of State Bill Galvin and Beacon Hill lawmakers that they will not accept the disenfranchisement of Asian-American voters due to the lack of ballot access caused by ballots only being printed in English.

Advocates and elected officials in attendance, including Malden Mayor Gary Christenson demanded the passing of the bill H. 4793, which would allow the City of Malden to provide ballots transliterated into Chinese. We must continue to stand up for voters’ rights, and make ballots accessible for all.

To learn more about this important event, view the livestream here.

President Biden announces student loan relief for borrowers who need it most
Last month, President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) announced a groundbreaking student debt relief plan for working families and low to middle-income federal student loan borrowers who need it most. This plan includes loan forgiveness of up to $20,000 in debt cancellation to Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 in debt cancellation to non-Pell Grant recipients. Nearly 8 million borrowers will be eligible for this relief if their individual income is less than $125,000 or their household income is less than $250,000.

Relieving the debt of millions of people is a step towards closing the racial wealth and homeownership gaps across communities. As interest rates, inflation, and the cost of living rise to extreme rates, this plan will be a game changer for our nation’s working families who are not only struggling to save in this economy, but are looking for a path to homeownership and build wealth. For more information about the Student Debt Relief Plan, visit https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief-announcement/.