In May, workers around the world recognized International Workers’ Day, or May Day. Originally chosen to honor workers who fought for the eight-hour workday and were met with violent repression in the 1886 Haymarket Incident, May Day has come to symbolize the fight for fairness, safety and dignity at work.
No one should be forced to choose between a paycheck and their rights in the workplace. Yet every day, workers face retaliation, discrimination and pressure to stay silent when they dare to ask for the basic protections they are entitled to under the law.
As staff attorneys at the local legal services nonprofit Community Legal Aid, we represent low-income workers across Central and Western Massachusetts who would not otherwise be able to afford counsel when they need to advocate for their legal rights. Our clients range from home health aides to warehouse staff, retail workers and more who have been harassed for exercising their rights, demoted, fired and denied unemployment benefits.
We represent workers when their employers break the law; we bring claims before administrative agencies and in state and federal courts, help workers navigate unemployment benefits, and educate workers about their rights. We seek relief for those workers who are harmed, and challenge systemic practices to prevent harm to others.
When workers speak up — whether it is a nurse raising patient safety concerns, or a laborer reporting sexual harassment — they are acting in the public interest and engaging in protected activity.
Many don’t realize that state and federal laws protect a variety of workers (such as health care and public sector workers) who speak up about illegal or unsafe conditions at work. These laws also prohibit employers from retaliating against workers who raise such concerns. Still, having rights on paper does not guarantee they will be respected in practice.
Enforcement of these laws relies on workers having the courage to come forward.
Pregnant workers face a different, but equally serious, challenge. The law is clear: workers should not be forced out of a job because of pregnancy or pregnancy-related needs. In practice, however, many are denied opportunities and basic accommodations such as modified duties, additional breaks, or short-term leave.
Instead of support, they face hostility and uncertainty.
The workers we represent often face immense pressure, yet they speak up anyway. Often, they tell us that they are speaking up not just for themselves, but for their co-workers, their families and their communities. We honor their courage and renew our commitment to advancing workplaces where doing the right thing doesn’t come at the cost of a livelihood.
If you believe your rights have been violated, visit www.communitylegal.org to learn more or apply for help.
Rory MacAneney and Madison O’Brien are staff attorneys in Community Legal Aid’s Employment Law Unit. For over 75 years, the organization has provided free civil legal services to low-income and elderly residents of Central and Western Massachusetts.
Staff Attorney – DLC