Workers Center

While Massachusetts has made two recent increases in the minimum wage, most Chinese immigrant workers have seen little improvements in their wages and working conditions.

Chinese immigrant workers are concentrated in the ethnic enclave economy and in service and light manufacturing sectors of the mainstream economy which are characterized by low pay, poor working conditions, and lack of union representation.

Developers and elected officials tout the economic benefits of rapid commercial development in and around Chinatown, but Chinese workers have seen little result.

Goal of the Workers Center

The goal of the Workers Center is to help Chinese workers learn about and organize for our rights, and to develop solidarity with workers of different communities and nationalities. The Workers Center:

° promotes awareness of workers’ rights

° provides support for collective action

° organizes the unemployed and the unorganized

° promotes fuller participation by Chinese workers in union activity to strengthen the labor movement

° develops Chinese workers’ voice in the policy arena

° builds the leadership role of Chinese workers in our community and in society.

Saturday Coffee Hour

The Workers Center holds an ongoing Saturday Coffee Hour, with activities and workshops to help immigrant workers learn about US society, labor laws, and workers’ rights. We have focused particular attention on the call for community labor standards and opposition to illegal practices in the area of wage and hour laws, job safety, and workers’ compensation.

We are sponsoring a petition drive to call for hiring goals and job opportunities from local redevelopment projects.

Recent Accomplishments

Power One: Factory laid-off 400 workers in July 2001. Chinese Progressive Association assisted the workers in organizing 3 pickets and winning $1 million in re-training benefits.