Private Sector workers at Logan Airport are fight for better wages and working conditions. They held a rally today that both AG Coakley and Treasurer Grossman attended (good for them). AG Coakley isn’t a new comer to this issues as the Globe story demonstrates:
Among those supporters were the two leading Democratic Massachusetts gubernatorial candidates, Martha Coakley and Steve Grossman, who both gave speeches at the meeting promoting the workers’ efforts. A representative for Boston Mayor Walsh appeared in support as well, as did a mix of local councilors and labor organizers.
The rally comes not long after several instances of Logan Airport contractors failing to pay workers minimum wage. In 2012, Coakley, the state Attorney General, ordered contractor Huntleigh USA to pay wheelchair attendants $11,000 in back wages. Coakley fined another contractor, Flight Services & Systems Inc., about $5000 in January 2013 for similar infractions.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2014/08/07/logan-airport-workers-rally-for-better-wages-union/i3XlMor4tiHRcOf7aE923M/story.html
And:
After sending a letter to MB Executives (along with the New Hampshire AG) reminding MB of its responsibilities under the law, AG Coakley went further to address the growing concern of thousands of Massachusetts residents working at MB:
After receiving more than 100 calls over the last 24 hours, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley established a hotline specifically for Market Basket employees. She asked that all employees reach her office’s Fair Labor Division at 617-963-2400.
http://www.boston.com/business/news/2014/08/07/report-market-basket-lay-off-all-part-time-employees/ogsQnLE2f7bmVry7CRjPdP/story.html?p1=trending_article_page_1
I am sure the employees must be under a lot of strain right now, and it is vital they know their rights under the law as employees. Far too many employees are kept in the dark about their own rights, and I am glad there is a hotline to help them. Frankly, a worker’s rights hotline is a great idea that should be made permanent and available to anyone.
The Fair Labor Division of the AG’s office does already have a permanent hotline that is available to everyone. The number is (617) 727-3465.
This number can and should be used by anyone with complaints related to violations of state law related to the payment of wages, minimum wage laws, overtime, prevailing wage, pay stub and record keeping, tip pooling, independent contractor, and retaliation laws.
For more info and to file an official complaint either online or through the mails, see: http://www.mass.gov/ago/doing-business-in-massachusetts/labor-laws-and-public-construction/file-a-wage-complaint.html
Good to know that exists! And glad the MB workers got a separate hotline for their own unique issues.