Issue Position: Labor

Issue Position

Marjorie's first year on the Council was marked by her strong support for the efforts of organized labor. She worked closely with workers and students at Harvard University to secure a living wage for all of Harvard's workers. As it became clear that Harvard was not going to provide a living wage Marjorie called on her childhood friends and neighbors, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, to help bring national attention to the plight of Harvard Workers who were being paid less the Cambridge employees. She also ensured that amidst the glare of all of the cameras--local unions were prominent in her rally and press coverage.

When the Cambridge Radisson Hotel closed its doors and dismissed all of their employees without recourse, Marjorie worked closely with UNITE Local 26 and pushed them to think more aggressively about challenging the new owners. Due to her efforts and those of the workers who courageously testified, Nordic Properties, signed an agreement with the union to bring back all of the workers when the newly renovated hotel opened and pay into the union's health care fund.

When UFCW, Tar Heel workers from Smithfield Meat Company in North Carolina, were fighting for better working conditions and an increase in wages --- Marjorie used her leverage as a Cambridge City Councilor to draw attention the company's attempts to undermine the organizing efforts of its meat packers using intimidation and harassment tactics. She believed Cambridge residents would want to make informed consumer choices about which companies they purchased their food from based on its labor practices.

Necco Candy factory attempted to thwart the efforts of their workers from organizing a card check election. In partnership with Lori Sutherland, Local 35, Marjorie worked to support the right to organize and invited the workers to come tell their story at a televised City Council meeting. When Necco learned of this they issued mandatory overtime for its shift workers preventing them from walking 5 blocks down the street to City Hall. As soon as I learned of this, Marjorie called for a recess and marched to Necco to meet with workers.

Secured a new Labor appointee to the Cambridge housing authority board on behalf of Teamsters Local 124.

When a local developer hired a large general contractor to build and develop luxury condos using unlicensed workers, Marjorie called for an investigation and chaired hearings at City Hall. Ultimately, the general contractor agreed to abide by the same community standards it is forced to in Boston--and promised to include union contractors throughout the bidding and hiring process."

When custodians at another large bio-tech company were organizing for the right to collectively bargain--workers found themselves losing hours and shifts in retaliation from the cleaning company that was subcontracted by the bio-tech company.. When the bio-tech company realized it could not make this issue go away, Marjorie met with the President of the bio-tech company, and ultimately they took responsibility for it subcontracted cleaner.

Marjorie worked with Local 12 Plumbers and Gas fitters and the Sprinklers Local 550 to hold the Mormon Church's commitment to filling 100% union jobs for the construction of the Mormon Church-even after Consigli signed contracts with non-union contractors.

In the 11th hour of the vote to support Alexandria Construction's zoning package, Marjorie negotiated on behalf of the building trades, with Jim Coyle, a memorandum of understanding to protect organized labor in case the project is sold.

When Harvard Security Guards, represented by SEIU, were in the middle of negotiations with sub-contractor, Allied Barton, Marjorie invited herself into the negotiations. Harvard understood it needed to redirect its subcontractor and they did.

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