JLC Summer Hearings Schedule

Our four key legislative priorities this year are the Safe Communities Act, paid family and medical leave, the $15/hour minimum wage and elimination of the tipped sub-minimum wage, the Fair Share Amendment. An important step in passing these laws is the hearing process.It's critical that advocates for these progressive pieces of legislation show up in force to demonstrate the widespread community support during the hearings and the Constitutional Convention. We hope you will join us.We encourage you to attend these lobby and hearing sessions for any portion of time you can. The length of each hearing will vary and is difficult to predict.If you have personal experience with topics covered by these bills and would like to share you experience publicly through a written statement or testimony, please contact Jenna at jenna.nejlc@gmail.com. Please also contact Jenna with any further questions about timing or logistics.

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Safe Communities Act Hearing

When: Friday, June 9 | 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.Where: Massachusetts State House Rooms A1 & A2

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Paid Family and Medical Leave Hearing

When: Tuesday, June 13 | Briefing & Lobbying 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Hearing 1:00-4:00 p.m.Where: Massachusetts State House | Briefing in Room 327 | Hearing in Room B2We will meet for a briefing and designated time to lobby your elected officials before the hearing time. We strongly encourage you to attend the pre-hearing program and to lobby your officials.

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Fight for $15/Minimum Wage Hearing

When: Tuesday, September 19 | Briefing & Lobbying 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Hearing 1:00-4:00 p.m.Where: Massachusetts State House | Briefing Room TBA | Hearing in Gardner AuditoriumWe will meet for a briefing and designated time to lobby your elected officials before the hearing time. We strongly encourage you to attend the pre-hearing program and to lobby your officials.

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Fair Share Amendment Constitutional Convention

When: Wednesday, June 14 | 12:30 p.m.Where: Massachusetts State House, House Chamber  

Guide to Massachusetts Legislative Processes

How does passing legislation in Massachusetts work? What role do the hearings for bills play?

When a bill is introduced to the State House, it is studied and voted upon by a committee of State Senators and Representatives assigned to legislation on various topics. For example, the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act is being debated by the Joint Committee Labor and Workforce Development. These committees hold hearing in which they listen to the opinions, experiences, and expertise of constituents, affected residents, experts, and advocates. Each bill must be passed out of committee to receive a vote by the State Senate and the State House of Representatives. If both the House and Senate vote favorably, the House and Senate work to reconcile any differences between the their respective versions of each bill, and send the final legislation to the Governor for approval.Note: The process for the Fair Share Amendment differs from that for paid family and medical leave, the minimum wage increase, and the Safe Communities Act. Senators and Representatives will take a vote during a special Constitutional Convention to decide whether the amendment will go on the 2018 ballot for voter approval. 

Celebrating May Day

A Brief History of May Day

May 1st, or May Day, is International Workers' Day. The first May Day mobilization took place 131 years ago, when workers rose up in the late 1800s to demand an eight-hour work day, and end to police brutality, and other rights for workers. In 1884, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions (the predecessor of the American Federation of Labor-AFL) called a nationwide movement for the eight-hour work day.

The FOTLU announced May 1, 1886 as the beginning of this movement. In Chicago, a massive, peaceful, multi-day mobilization began on May 1, 1886. Violence erupted on May 3, and police officers killed four workers and wounded 200. The Haymarket Affair became justification for anti-labor and anti-union government crackdowns across the country. In July 1889, May 1 became designated as International Labor Day in memory of the injustice of the Haymarket Affair.

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May Day Mobilizations

We are happy to be participating in two actions for May Day this year. Details below.

Here to Stay: Rally in Support of the Safe Communities Act

When: Monday, May 1 | 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Where: Massachusetts State House Steps

Join labor and immigrants' groups on International Workers' Day for a rally as we speak out against unfair deportations and call for the passage of the Safe Communities Act. The Safe Communities Act would Massachusetts state support for a Muslim registry and protect immigrants in the Commonwealth through a number of provision, including barring state, local, and campus police from participation in federal immigration enforcement activities. Click here to learn more about the Safe Communities Act and what you can do to support it.

East Boston, Chelsea, and Everett March

When: Monday, May 1 | 4:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

Where: March from Lo Presti Park in East Boston, to Chelsea City Hall

The immigrant communities of East Boston, Chelsea, and Everett will join forces once again to marches on Monday, May 1 in honor of International Workers' Day.

Logisitics: The NE JLC will be joining this coalition at Lo Presti Park at 4:00 p.m. Please get off at the Maverick stop on the Blue Line; there will be marshalls at Maverick Square to direct you to Lo Presti Park (a 5 minute walk). Please email us if you would like to carry a Jewish Labor Committee sign.

This year's event is symbolically being held in the City of Chelsea, which became a sanctuary city in June of 2007. The resolution that was approved by Chelsea's City Council states that the City of Chelsea respects all people irrespective of their race, ethnicity or immigration status. It also establishes that all Chelsea residents have the right to work without fear, receive fair wages, and access secure working conditions. The resolution concludes that unwarranted raids and consequential family separations will not be tolerated in Chelsea.

Support the Safe Communities Act: Call Elected Officials Today!

Please read this PDF and join us in actively advocating for the SCA.

You shall treat the stranger who resides with you as the native-born among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Creator your G-d. -Leviticus 19:34

You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. -Exodus 22:21

Because of our dedication to immigrants’ rights and human dignity, we here at the NE JLC strongly support the Safe Communities Act.The Safe Communities Act would protect the civil rights of all state residents by making sure our tax dollars are not used to help the Trump Administration deport immigrant families or create a Muslim registry. This critically important bill is sponsored by State Sen. Jamie Eldridge (S.1305) and State Rep. Juana Matías (H.3269).

Save the Date: Fight for $15 hearing on Tues. Oct. 13 at the State House

Join the Jewish community in supporting the Fight for $15.The Jewish community is on board with the Fight for $15. In addition to the JLC's support and involvement, the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis both publicly stated their support for the Fight for $15 campaign. The Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action has made this a priority.Now, we need YOU to come out and make sure these bills actually pass!On Oct. 13, the Massachusetts Legislature's Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development will hear testimony on Fight for $15 bills. These include multiple bills to create a $15 per hour minimum wage for workers; a bill to ensure fair scheduling for workers; and a bill to raise the tipped minimum wage.Join the JLC and our partners from the Raise Up MA Coalition at the State House on October 13th to show your support for these bills.What is the Fight for $15?The Fight for $15 has grown from an effort to raise standards in the fast-food industry, into a broader movement to improve wages and conditions for low wage employees across Massachusetts. In 2013-2014, the state legislature passed the highest State Minimum Wage in the country, as well as Earned Sick Time. But a minimum wage is NOT a living wage. We need to fight for better working conditions too.What will the day look like?Where: Massachusetts State House 24 Beacon Street, Boston MA 02133When: 11:30 am Rally and march. 12:00 pm Lobby - meet with your legislators. Meet in Room 437. 1:00 pm Attend the hearing in Room A-1. 2:30 pm Assemble at Grand Stair Case and proceed to a fast food action.Let us know if you can make it by emailing newenglandjlc@jewishlabor.org or calling 617-227-0888.

Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Signed Into Law

Since December of 2012, the NE JLC has been working to pass the Massachusetts Domestic Workers Bill of Rights (DWBR), which would establish basic workplace rights for nannies, housekeepers and caregivers employed in private homes. For example, the NE JLC mobilized people to go the State House to advocate for the DWBR, organized living room talks to raise awareness of conditions for domestic workers among those who employ them, and spoke about the DWBR at several synagogues. Through the advocacy of the NE JLC, the Somerville Board of Alderman voted unanimously to support the DWBR.The DWBR passed in the State House and was signed by the Governor on July 2^nd, 2014. NE JLC will continue to work to educate the Jewish community and help implement the bill.