Mass Jobs with Justice Summer Newsletter July 2022

ISSUE 5

JULY 2022

Solidarity Is Our Superpower

In this issue: Spring Events May Day with Mass JwJ North | East | West | Central Mass.

The Big Fight Back Chicopee Springfield Quincy

Lawrence Lynn Boston

Mass JwJ in Solidarity Starbucks Workers United Solidarity The Fight for a Fair Contract for Macy's workers with the UFCW 1445 Massachusetts Jobs with Justice 617-433-8391 JWJ@massjwj.net Massjwj.net 375 Centre St, Boston, MA 02130 1380 Main St #203, Springfield, MA 01103 DONATE HERE! 01

Dear Massachusetts Jobs with Justice friends, We've been hitting the streets! This spring we have been canvassing and door-knocking for #TheBigFightBack and we have been rallying for fair contracts and workers rights!

This past May Day, we launched our campaign The Big Fight Back, which united our struggles to pass the Fair Share Amendment and to stop Big Tech from getting their own California Prop-22-like ballot initiative on the November ballot. On June 14th, the Mass SJC ruled Big Tech's ballot question is unconstitutional, but we will not stop organizing to stop corporate greed.

As part of our campaign, we have hosted panel discussions, tabled at festivals, and knocked on more than 3,000 doors to ask voters to vote "Yes" for the Fair Share Amendment!

But wait-- there's more! Please sign our pledge to support Starbucks workers unionizing in stores across our state. Click here to show your solidarity.

Join the movement!

In solidarity, The Massachusetts Jobs with Justice Team

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Why May Day? May Day also known as International Workers' Day is a celebration of the working class promoted by the international labor movement and occurs every year on May 1st. This past May Day, Mass JwJ honored the past by organizing for the future.

Click here to learn more about labor history in the United States and how the fight continues.

Our May Day events across the state!

Boston

We partnered with a broad coalition of immigrant rights groups, immigrant worker centers, unions, and community groups to march from Chelsea to Boston. We rallied in Liberty Plaza, in East Boston, where the energy, music, and chants inspired us all.

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Worcester Our activist members of Worcester Community United (WCU) organized a Grassroots Solidarity Rally with residents and families. Later in the day, we co-organized a standout at Worcester City Hall in support of EAW Education Support Professionals.​

Lynn We rallied at Cobbet Elementary, then joined a caravan of over 30 vehicles across the city, with the North Shore Labor Council, Mass Is Not for Sale (MIN4S), Neighbor to Neighbor, Lynn United for Change, and many other organizations & unions, beeping our car horns and dancing in the streets!

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Northampton

Our coalition with the Western Mass Area Labor Federation and River Valley Democratic Socialists of America united organizers, and activists from the region to canvass for #TheBigFightBack! We heard from local workers and community members about their current organizing campaigns and fights. They shared opportunities on how to show support. We enjoyed a pot-luck lunch in the park and co-hosted an Organizing 101 training to support new organizing campaigns in local workplaces.

Social Media

Our Instagram campaign for May Day highlighted labor leaders and activists every day in the month of May to share lessons from history for today.

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The Big Fight Back Here are some of the ways that Mass Jobs with Justice has worked to pass the Fair Share Amendment and protect gig workers with Mass Is Not for Sale (MIN4S): Spring Canvass & Bowling In Western Mass we had a canvass and then a social event at AMF Bowling Lanes in Chicopee on the same day.

We completed several shifts before the rain cut things short!

We then bowled and had more folks come out for a fun time.

It was a blast!

Springfield PRIDE We had a riot celebrating at Springfield Pride with our longtime coalition partner OUTNOW. It was exciting to talk to attendees about the amazing work of Springfield's ONLY LGBTQ+ youth organization and it was an added bonus to talk to so many people about #TheBigFightBack and the importance of showing up to vote this November!

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Canvassing From Lynn, to Lawrence, Boston to Western Mass, our organizers and volunteers have been going door-to-door asking voters to vote Yes on the Fair Share Amendment and to support gig workers and not the Big Tech companies as well as raising awareness on issues such as housing and public education which are important to our local partners. Check out our Facebook Events Page to join us!

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Mass JwJ in Solidarity Mass JwJ is committed to fighting for the rights of all workers: locally, nationally, and internationally. The past couple of months, we partnered with unions and workers and supported organizing efforts at Starbucks and Macy's.

Starbucks Workers United Solidarity Mass JwJ is partnering with Starbucks Workers United and the Western MA Area Labor Federation to amplify the amazing and inspirational organizing of Starbucks workers in Massachusetts. Our community solidarity campaign will connect supporters throughout MA to Starbucks organizers and ensure that solidarity support exists throughout the state. Want to support Starbucks Workers United? Click here to sign up for ways to take action.

Macy's workers/UFCW 1445 Fight for a Fair Contract Mass JwJ supported the UFCW 1445 and 900 Macy's workers fight for a fair contract. Co-Executive Director Lily Huang spoke at a rally downtown in solidarity with the contract struggle on June 2nd. After the rally, UFCW and the 900 Macy's union members won their new Collective Bargaining Agreement!

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Mass Jobs with Justice in the News / Media Celebrating Labor History and #TheBigFightBack Abortion Access is a Class Issue. Where Do We Go from Here?

EAW Paraprofessional Organizational Support Letter

Connect with Us! Follow us on social media @massjwj

PHONE: 617-433-8391 EMAIL: jwj@massjwj.net ADDRESS I: 375 Centre St, Boston, MA 02130 &

@MassJwJ @massjobswithjustice

ADDRESS II: 1380 Main St #203, Springfield, MA 01103 WEBSITE: massjwj.net Donate to support our work here.

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