Somerville Labor Unity Event Highlights Opportunities For Growth

Our Revolution Somerville (ORS) hosted a Labor Unity breakfast attended by about 45 labor leaders and community activists on Saturday, Dec. 16. The purpose of the breakfast was to allow local union leaders to brief members of the Board of Aldermen (BoA) on their members concerns and to bring labor's agenda closer to the work of ORS. Photos from the breakfast are posted on Flickr here.

The breakfast was moderated by Rand Wilson, an organizer with SEIU Local 888 and active member of ORS. In opening remarks, Wilson emphasized the importance of establishing strong standards for working conditions and local hire in the community. He urged the BoA to more aggressively use opportunities to raise standards provided by building permits, food and beverage licenses, health inspections, and enforcement of the wage theft ordinance. Wilson commended the board for passage of the new jobs linkage tax and creation of the Job Creation and Retention Trust.

Wilson urged union leaders to work together to re-establish Somerville as a "union city" by making organizing our top priority. Union membership and collective bargaining help workers achieve good paying jobs and lasting careers. Local elected officials can assist, by working with local employers and unions to mutually reach what he described as "free and fair" election agreements that can expedite a pathway to collective bargaining.

Penelope Jennewein described ORS's mission of fighting for racial, social, and economic justice and the group's campaign effort to elect its candidate slate. Somerville Community Corp organizer Karen Narefsky, a leader of Boston Democratic Socialists of America, talked about the thousands of doors DSA members knocked in wards two and three; helping to elect ORS and DSA members against two incumbents. Narefsky, who is leaving after many years of community organizing in Somerville, got a standing ovation for her service to the community.

Other speakers included Ed Halloran, Somerville Municipal Employees; Brian Doherty, Metro Boston Trades Council; Jim Carvalho, UFCW Local 1445; Paul Hughes, NE Regional Council of Carpenters; Tommy Ross, IAFF Local 76 and Jamie McNeil, UNITE-HERE Local 26.

Ed Halloran spoke about the failure of the city to negotiate in good faith with the city's municipal workers and the huge backlog of unresolved grievances and unfair labor practice charges. Brian Doherty described the difference between working for a union contractor and a nonunion contractor in stark terms and results of labor exploitation on incomes and safety. Jim Carvalho gave an overview of his union's membership and its jurisdiction in retail grocery, laundry services and now medical and recreational marijuana. Paul Hughes described the unscrupulous practices contractors are using to exploit construction workers in Assembly Sq. leading to an underground economy. Tom Ross provided an overview of city finances and the urgent need to address infrastructure for first responders. Jamie McNeil described how union members are being displaced by speculative real estate investments and short-term lodging arrangements in residential properties.

Somerville Alders (and alders-elect) in attendance were Matt McLaughlin, JT Scott, Ben Ewen-Campen, Jesse Clingan, Lance Davis, Kajtana Ballantyne, Stephanie Hirsch, Mary Jo Rossetti, and Bill White. Also in attendance was State Rep. Mike Connolly.

Labor leaders attending included AFSCME School Cafeteria employees president Joann Rivieccio, Carpenters Regional Council chief of staff John Murphy, Carpenters organizer Vinny Scalisi, F&O Local 3's Peter Blaike, Insulators Local 6 business agent Jack Lister, Painters District Council 35 director of government affairs Roger Brunelle, Sheetmetal Workers Local 17 agent Rich Keogh, Somerville Teachers Association executive board member Jamal Halawa, Somerville Police Dispatchers and SEIU Local 888 leader Terri Mederios, Somerville Patrolmen's Association leader Mike McGrath, Superior Officers Association president Jerry Rymill, SEIU Local 509 leader Maryanne Walles and Teamsters Local 122 leader Payton Corbett.

ORS steering committee members attending included Drew Flanagan, Melinda Green, Richard Hughes Jon Leonard, Matthew Miller, Larry Rich and Luke Schaber, along with recently elected Union Sq. Neighborhood Council members Jacob Kramer and Pennie Taylor.

Wilson urged union leaders to increase our visibility by taking advantage of community-based media, using lawn and window signs, and possibly opening a workers' center. He closed the event by saying, "When labor works closely with the community we win. And when the community works with labor we win. Let's make 2018 the year that we all start winning!"

Photos from the event are posted on Flickr here. Click here to learn more about Our Revolution Somerville and "like" us on Facebook here.