Zac Signs GBLC Pledge to the Working Class
I’m proud to stand in solidarity with workers and unions in Medford.
I signed the Greater Boston Labor Council’s Pledge to the Working Class because workers and their unions are the foundation of our communities and deserve support and protection. As a former union member, union staffer, and director of a labor-community organization, I know first hand the power of the labor movement and how it can lift up people from all walks of life to find power in their communities, their workplaces, and within themselves.
Unions have been under attack for decades by billionaires and giant corporations who have re-written the social contract to benefit the 1% at the expense of working people. We need to fight back at the local, state, and national level, and the labor movement is a key leader in our fight for dignity, democracy, and justice for all.
I encourage you to read the full pledge as outlined below.
Greater Boston Labor Council – Pledge to the Working Class
Workers are fundamental to powering Greater Boston’s progress and in turn our vitality comes from sharing the prosperity of our work. Our local and state policies must reflect the interconnectedness of our lives – when we return home at the end of a work day to care for our families, shop at our neighborhood grocery store, and engage in our local community organizations and religious institutions, we are the same workers who build your homes, teach in your schools, care for your children and elderly, and clean your offices and hotel rooms.
Candidates who share our vision for vibrant, equitable communities and who will use their elected position to advance our agenda to build a more inclusive, multiracial democracy make this pledge:
I pledge to defend and strengthen the rights of all workers by supporting the freedom to join a union, collectively bargain, organize labor actions and challenge corporations to serve the common good. I will support policies like the prevailing wage, health care access for all, pay equity and project labor agreements. I will fight against privatization and wage theft, and acknowledge gig workers as employees, not independent contractors.
As we face increased corporate takeover of our democracy and the monumental task of rebuilding our communities in the wake of the pandemic, I pledge to reimagine how our society is structured and fight for the public good. This includes sustainable and equitable development that houses, employs and protects working people, public transit that is safe, accessible and affordable for all, and good jobs that support, nurture and sustain our lives and our communities.
During the pandemic and beyond, I pledge to fight for all essential workers by opposing cuts to services and advocating for PPE, paid medical leave and hazard pay. I will fight for enforcement and enhancement of workplace safety laws, and will stand up for women returning to the workplace by increasing access to quality and affordable childcare.
I pledge to proactively address structural racial inequities and to create a more inclusiveCommonwealth for all people to plant roots and thrive, regardless of immigration status. I will champion legislation that will protect tenants from evictions, allow any qualified driver to receive a MA drivers license and advocate for local climate initiatives to use a triple-win framework that benefits workers, our communities and the environment.