Stop Cuts to Wage & Hour Enforcement

Due to the budget crisis, the budget for the office that enforces basic wage and hour laws and the attorneys that help low income workers when they need to file their claims have faced drastic cuts.  We are asking all of our supporters to send a message to your State Senators asking them to restore funding to the Fair Wage Division and to the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (Legal Services).  There are several amendments that would restore the funding:

  1. Creem Amendment to restore funding for MLAC, the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation – Line item 0321-1600
  2. Amendment # 85 by Senator Tollman to restore the Fair Labor Budget
  3. Amendment # 285 and 286  by Tom McGee that would restore the DOS budget and asbestos and lead licensing

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Protect Funding for Workplace Protections

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Across Massachusetts, workers rely on services provided by Legal Services and the Fair Labor Division when their rights in the workplace have been violated. Workers turn to these two agencies when employers fail to pay them, put them in dangerous situations, and short them on their hours. I am writing to ask your support for four amendments to the budget:

Creem Amendment to restore funding for MLAC, the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation Line item 0321-1600,

Amendment # 85 by Senator Tollman to restore the Fair Labor Budget

Amendment # 285 and 286 by Tom McGee that would restore the DOS budget and asbestos and lead licensing

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
May 20, 2009


Background Information

For more information on Legal Services visit  http://www.mlac.org/

Who is the Fair Labor Division?

Enforcement of the Public Bidding Laws protects taxpayer funds
The work of the Fair Labor Division in protecting taxpayer money is more important than ever.  With the infusion of stimulus money into the Commonwealth and with increasing taxpayer concern that public money is well spent, and scandal free, the Fair Labor Division ensures public confidence, as well as transparency and accountability in the bid process. 

The Fair Labor Division protects taxpayer money by ensuring that the State, cities and towns, and other public subdivisions obtain the lowest, responsible bid for public construction.  The Division helps awarding authorities follow the law in awarding stimulus contracts and protects cities and towns from entering into contracts with unqualified or irresponsible contractors.

Enforcement of the Wage & Hour Laws brings additional revenue to the Commonwealth
The Fair Labor Division has sole jurisdiction for the civil and criminal enforcement of the State's Wage & Hour Laws, including, but not limited to the state's Misclassification of Employees, Payment of Wages, Minimum Wage, Overtime, and Prevailing Wage Laws.  In addition to ensuring a level playing field for honest businesses, the Fair Labor Division's enforcement work helps to ensure that employers provide workers compensation and pay taxes on wages and unemployment compensation contributions. In 2008-2009, the Division helped obtain earned wages for over 10,000 employees whose employers have failed to pay them for their work.

Fiscal 09:

Restitution (wages recovered for MA workers)            $4,146,196.63 

Penalties / Fees (go to Comm. Gen. Fund)                    $   426,428.48  

TOTAL REVENUE - THROUGH APRIL 09       $4,572,625.11

ANTICIPATED REVENUE FY 09                  $5,487,150.13