During the early morning of Wednesday, November 13th, a 4-Alarm fire broke out in Worcester and we tragically lost Worcester Fire Lt. Jason Menard. Worcester Fire Chief Michael Lavoie said, "Lt. Jason Menard, a 39-year old husband and father of three, died of this injuries after his "heroic efforts" to save people in the four-alarm fire at 7 Stockholm Street. Fire authorities received reports of a baby trapped on the third floor of the building as well as a report of a trapped resident around 1 AM. Menard heroically and selflessly help a firefighter to the stairs before returning into the flames to help another firefighter escape out the window.

“He had a true passion for firefighting,” said Michael Papagni, president of Local 1009. “He was always a joy to have in the firehouse and to be around. He was a “genuine person” as well as a “nice guy.”

Papagni said the married father of three “always talked about his family. He loved his family more than anything in the world. He found great joy in spending time with them and loved his wife and his children very much.”

Breaking News: UNITE HERE Local 26 Battery Wharf workers have been fighting for a fair contract since March and announced yesterday, 11/21, that they have reached a tentative agreement with management. The ratification vote is today.

Workers have been fighting for the right to a fair schedule, job security, affordable family healthcare, yearly wage increases, and a pension. They have been on strike since September 5th.

On Wednesday, the House and Senate approved the Student Opportunity Act, a historic bill that will increase state spending on public education by $1.5 billion over inflation as of 2027. It was approved unanimously to big applause.

The bill now goes to Governor Charlie Baker for his action.

Click here to see a statement from the Massachusetts Teachers Association.
Click here to see a statementfrom the American Federation of Teachers, Massachusetts.

When you buy union, you're supporting good jobs in American communities, jobs that provide living wages and benefits, safe working conditions, and dignity and respect for work. Look for these quality products, produced by union members, when preparing for your Thanksgiving feast.

This election season saw a surge of union member and pro-working family candidates for municipal office. The Massachusetts Central Labor Councils and Assemblies endorsed in many races to help create a government where working people have a voice.

To see who won in your city, click here.

To learn more about jumping into the political process and to continue the momentum heading into 2020, join our first ever union member candidate school this December 7th.

Massachusetts Building Trades Unions’ Annual Helmets To Hard Hats Events Bolsters Program to Help Veterans Get Union Careers

Members of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) are fighting to secure a fair contract with major Hollywood film and TV companies, led by the Walt Disney Co. As Disney makes billions in profits, it refuses to pay musicians fairly, resulting in a 75% pay cut on all work done for its new streaming service, Disney Plus.

We need your help: Tell top Disney executives that it’s time to pay musicians and bargain a fair and just contract! Hardworking musicians are being driven from their profession, all because Disney won’t share a small piece of the wealth.

Send a letter to Disney executives now. #CorporateFairShare

Boston, MA MP Boston and the Building Trades Unions signed a groundbreaking Project Labor Agreement (PLA) that will cover the development of the forthcoming Winthrop Center, slated for completion in 2022. The signing demonstrates the leading-edge efforts and unified commitment by all parties to advance best practices in diversity and inclusion for the project.

Over the past decade, MP Boston and the Building Trades Unions have worked successfully to increase diversity and Boston resident hiring in the local construction industry.

For the Building Trades Unions, that has included innovative programs like Building Pathways, among others, which have led to major increases in women and people of color achieving life-changing careers in the union construction industry. Building Trade Unions have created a host of partnerships with nonprofit organizations, community organizations, high schools, and career centers, while also updating their means of communication to intentionally recruit workers from Boston neighborhoods to join their ranks.

Occupational licensure is not an impediment — it makes people safer.

The investigation revealed that the duct work was not done properly. Changes were made, regulations were instituted, and sheet metal workers — who install those types of ducts — became licensed by the state. There haven’t been casualties from a similar type of fire since.

The public service mission of the Postal Service has made it the most popular federal agency. However, this public good is at risk if we don’t all act soon.

In June 2018 the White House announced proposals to privatize the Postal Service. Now Postmaster General Megan Brennan has announced her departure as Postmaster General in January 2020.

The Postmaster General has wide powers to shape the mission of USPS and there is a real risk that Brennan’s successor could hand over parts of the service to private, profit-making corporations and prepare it for a wholesale sell-off.

The people will rightly expect a new Postmaster General who will uphold the Postal Service’s public mission and will work to preserve and enhance our national treasure.

Join AFSCME to Protest Union Busting in Cambridge This Black Friday!

On Black Friday, join AFSCME at Guess stores around the country to tell the Marciano family to respect workers’ rights, reopen the Marciano Art Foundation (MAF), reinstate their workers and recognize their union.

Just in time for the holidays, the MAF laid off Visitor Services staff only four days after they filed their union petition to organize! The next day, the Marcianos closed the whole museum, indicating that they would rather cut and run on their obligations to the community rather than address employees’ concerns.

A week later, they continue to hold private tours and events at MAF.

MAF workers need our help and solidarity. We are going to Guess stores to show the Marcianos that they are not above the law.

Join us at Guess stores to demand that the Marcianos: Reopen MAF, Reinstate MAF workers and, Recognize their union.

Guess Again! Black Friday Picket

Cambridge - Guess Cambridgeside Galleria, 100 Cambridgeside Place,Cambridge, MA

10a.m. - 12 p.m.

   Teamsters Local 25 Ends Marshfield Strike

The MA AFL-CIO salutes the courageous workers of Republic Services Marshfield for holding the line for 84 days against corporate greed.

Click here for a statement from Teamsters Joint Council 10:

"A small group in Marshfield, Massachusetts had the stones to take on a mammoth corporation. Working Teamsters and their local unions across the nation backed them every day. That is a point of pride,” said Sean O’Brien, Teamster Local 25 President.

Click here to read more.

‘Construction life got us to where we are now’ says formerly homeless East Bridgewater mother

When Tara Williams thinks about how her life has changed in the past few months, she attributes the transformation to her new career in construction.

Following a divorce that left her and her two children homeless, the 42-year-old worked various types jobs and settled in East Bridgewater. Becoming a construction worker has provided her family stability and the ability to look ahead.

“It feels awesome,” Williams said. “When I walk around, I feel a big sense of accomplishment. I’ve been through so much and it can only get better.”

About six weeks ago, she started with Northern Construction Co. She is part of an eight-person crew in Carver that is converting a bridge to two-way traffic and adding sidewalks.

Read more about this Laborers, Local 721 member from The Enterprise.

There are only a handful of spots left for union member candidate school. Reserve yours before it's too late.

Support for union members running for elected office is a top priority for the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and our affiliates. We know that when our members run on a platform of working people’s values and receive unified support from the labor movement, we will win. The Massachusetts AFL-CIO and its Executive Board are establishing a union candidate school to train our members to run for elected office from the local/municipal level all the way up to statewide/federal office.

Our first session will be held on Saturday December 7th, 9am-2pm. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. The training will be free of charge and participants will be given materials to use as a reference for campaign purposes.

December 3: Tradeswomen Tuesday, Roxbury
December 6: The Labor Guild CGA Awards Dinner
December 7: Union Member Candidate School, Boston
December 7: Forging Pathways: 16th Annual Women's Solidarity Breakfast, Lynn
December 11: Building Trades Futures Committee