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Massive Subsidies for Fast Food Industry through Benefits to Low Wage Employees, Report Finds

18 October 2013 - 3:36am | superuser
by Jonathan Adams

A new report put out by the University of California at Berkeley’s Labor Center outlines the amount of welfare benefits going to low-wage fast-food workers. The study, "Fast Food, Poverty Wages: The Public Cost of Low-Wage Jobs in the Fast-Food Industry," was released Tuesday. It found that more than half of the families of front-line fast-food workers, earning a median wage of just $8.69 per hour, are using major public programs, such as food stamps or Medicaid, compared to 25 percent of the workforce as a whole.

Boston City Department Allegedly Paid Employee of Color Less than White Colleagues for Similar Work

28 September 2013 - 1:40pm | superuser
by Jonathan Adams

BOSTON/Mattapan - A woman of color is suing the City of Boston’s Parks and Recreation Department for allegedly paying her less than her white co-workers.

Claudette Bailey, who lives in Mattapan, worked as an executive assistant for the department for around 24 years until her retirement.

The suit filed at the US District Court in Boston on September 16, alleges that Bailey was paid at a lesser grade than she should have been, despite appeals to management for a raise, resulting in lower pay and a reduced pension.

Fired Workers IWW Continue Fight to Unionize Insomnia Cookies

18 September 2013 - 6:44pm | superuser
by Jason Pramas

Cambridge, Mass. - Over 30 members of the Industrial Workers of the World and allies held a picket outside the Insomnia Cookies store in Harvard Square on Thursday evening as part of their ongoing campaign against the growing dessert chain after it fired four employees in August for attempting to form a union.

BJ's Wholesale Knowingly Failed to Pay Overtime and Minimum Wage Employee Alleges

13 September 2013 - 12:00am | superuser
by Jonathan Adams

Natick, Mass. – A Massachusetts-based bulk retailer is being sued by one of its Ohio employees for allegedly failing to pay him and others their full wages.

BJ’s Wholesale Club, incorporated in Natick, Mass., is claimed to have known it was violating federal and state laws on overtime and minimum wage, respectively.

Johnny Nieves who manages a meat department at a BJ’s superstore in Ohio filed the suit at the US District Court in Boston on July 31.

Boston Housing Court Hit by Anti-Foreclosure Rally, Protestors Plan More Actions

13 September 2013 - 12:00am | superuser
by Jonathan Adams

BOSTON/West End - Boston Housing Court Thursday was the scene of a demonstration to put an end to house foreclosures across the Bay State and beyond. The City Life/Vida Urbana protest saw about 100 members and supporters of the nonprofit march from Haymarket T station to picket outside the Housing Court on New Chardon street. The event took place following the eviction of Olivé Hendricks from his Roslindale home on August 22nd, and a protest organized there by the nonprofit.

Labor Day Union Rally and March in Cambridge Hits Out at Local Employers

3 September 2013 - 3:51am | superuser
by Jonathan Adams

Cambridge, Mass. - Labor Day in Cambridge saw a union rally and march in the streets that took aim at local employers. Organized by the Service Employees International Union, around 300 members and supporters participated in the event; it hit out at Cambridge College and Harvard university over layoffs and the use of nonunion contractors.

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