On October 23, a crowd organized by MassCOSH gathered in the ornamental center of the Massachusetts State House to hear powerful pleas from the families of the late Robert Higgins and Kelvin Mattocks. Before elected officials, reporters, and TV cameras, the bereaved families demanded advocates do all they can to…
Press Statement FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10/4/2017 Contact: Jeff Newton, MassCOSH Communications Coordinator (O) (617) 825-7233 x14 Labor Safety Advocates Encouraged by Senate Passage of Worker Protection Bill BOSTON Today, after more than a decade of steadfast advocacy…
BOSTON – October 4, 2017 Today, after more than a decade of steadfast advocacy by labor advocates, a bill extending OSHA protections to Massachusetts public employees has passed the Massachusetts Senate, where it now awaits a critical vote by the House. S.2167, An Act Further Defining Standards…
For low-wage workers, benefits after being hurt on the job seem to be anything but guaranteed. Last year, MassCOSH assisted a woman who had slipped and broken her wrist the first day working at a restaurant. Her employer had workers’ compensation insurance, but to avoid and increase in costs, denied…
You could say Jessica Tavares is a pillar of MassCOSH. Working with Teens Lead at Work (TL@W), MassCOSH's teen worker program since 2011, no one, including TL@W’s current staff, has been involved with the program for as long. Now, before embarking on starting her career with the Boston Public School…
School nurses are more than just the caring providers of cold compresses and a cot to rest on when students are not feeling great. These healthcare workers are also critical players in the fight to improve indoor environmental conditions in Massachusetts’ crumbling schools. School nurses are essential…
For immigrant workers, there is a chill in the air; that is if they can find the courage to leave their homes. They are afraid that while they go about their lives, their work, they could be the next Ana Duarte (Ana's details have been modified to protect her identity).
Dear MassCOSH Supporters, I did not feel like I could start the work week as usual today, without at least recognizing even via email the horrible events that took place over the weekend in Charlottesville, VA. As usual, Vu Le, the author of the Blog Nonprofit AF…
Last month a worker was injured on the job. His employer failed to carry Workers Compensation insurance as required by law. In an attempt to escape liability and avoid paying damages, the employer invited the worker to a meeting where he feigned concern for his family and handed him an…
Thanks to years of hard work and talented staff, MassCOSH’s Worker Center is increasingly recognized as a regional leader in the fight to ensure that immigrant workers can enjoy safe, fair-paying jobs. This leadership was on full display when the Worker Center led a major demonstration this past May 1,…
For a variety of reasons, not every young person is able to obtain a college degree before entering the workforce. From the skyrocketing cost of a four-year degree, to family obligations that require young people to help generate income, every year, Teens Lead @ Work (TL@W) encounters many young people…
For Susan Shepard, MassCOSH’s 40th Anniversary Gala seemed a bit surreal. Just about four decades ago, she and a handful of very progressive labor advocates were meeting in various union halls, discussing the occupational health and safety ideals that would soon give birth to a new organization: the Massachusetts Coalition…