Massachusetts AFL-CIO

The role of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO is to serve as the unified voice of all organized workers in the Commonwealth and to be a voice for all working people, those in unions and those not yet organized. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families—by working for economic, social and racial justice in the workplace, in our communities, our state and in our nation. Our vision is of a fair and just society that benefits all working people, not a system that’s rigged in favor of the wealthy few.

MA AFL-CIO Endorses John Mahoney for State Senate

"The Massachusetts AFL-CIO Executive Council has unanimously voted to support John Mahoney in his race for the State Senate.

We Mourn for Dennis Robertson, LIUNA Local 175

"Our hearts go out to the family of Laborers Local 175 member, Dennis Robertson, who tragically lost his life on Wednesday in a workplace accident in Haverhill.

Congratulations To Our Newly Elected Endorsed Candidates and Union Members!

This election season saw a surge of union member and pro-working family candidates for municipal office.

We Mourn Today for Fallen Worcester Firefighter, Lt. Jason Menard

The entire Massachusetts AFL-CIO community mourns the loss of Worcester Firefighter, Lieutenant Jason Menard, who died heroically in the line of duty last night, saving residents trapped in a three

Mortgages for Union Families

Union Plus Mortgage Company is owned by the AFL-CIO Union Privilege and a group of unions.

Read the Report

Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect, 2019

PowerTools

A resource for union members and organizers.

Defend and Resist

A toolkit for organizers and advocates on workplace raids and audits.

Recent News

Weekly Labor Reader, December 6

How a Gig Worker Revolt Begins

Until last week, Li Zilles was one of the many nameless and faceless contractors toiling in the bowels of the internet, providing online services that might have been mistaken for the work of artificial intelligence.

The job: to transcribe audio files for the start-up Rev.com, churning out texts without clients ever knowing the name of the transcriber.

This was a lonely existence, and not an easy one. The pay, even though the work was full-time, was little enough that food stamps became necessary.

Workers Deserve a Say in Automation

When the global economy shifted in the late 19th century, working people were the first to adapt. They moved to cities like Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Toledo, Ohio, and worked long hours in unsafe factories. They drove the Industrial Revolution and changed the nature of work forever. When it became clear that employers were exploiting their productivity, the labor movement formed to protest abuses like sweatshops, child labor, and poverty wages.

How Workers Are Fighting Back Against Big Tech

On September 13 more than a hundred activists participated in a bicoastal protest at Palantir’s two headquarters, in New York City and in Palo Alto, California. The intent of the protest was to bring awareness to the tech company’s involvement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which Palantir provides with data-mining software that’s been used to screen undocumented immigrants and plan raids.

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Prevent Workplace Violence

Recently introduced legislation would provide needed protections for health care and social services workers from violence on the job. Tell Congress to support an OSHA workplace violence standard.

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Stop Wage Theft in Massachusetts

In today's economy, where employers increasingly subcontract or outsource core parts of their business to other companies, wage theft has overwhelmed the capacity of our existing labor laws and enforcement mechanisms.Urge your Senator and Representative co-sponsor vital wage theft legislation. 

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