JOBS, UNIONS & THE ECONOMY

Why Alan Cares

Alan believes in an economy that works for everyone. That means everyone gets a seat at the table, whether they’re governmental leaders, blue collar workers, developers, or business owners. To that end, Alan is a strong supporter of workers’ rights to organize. In order for an economy to be fair, workers must possess a share of the overall collective bargaining power.

Alan understands the value of protecting workers’ rights on a deeply personal level. Alan’s Great Grandfather, Augusto Mantini, worked as a coal miner in western Pennsylvania and was inspired by John L. Lewis to fight for the coal miners’ union. Alan’s uncle is a high school custodian back in his hometown and thanks to his Union has a living wage, good quality healthcare for him and his family, and a pension. Alan’s brother and sister in law met as organizers at UNITE. His brother in law became chief of staff at UNITE and Executive Director of the Change to Win Coalition. His sister in law is now a proud member of the Maryland Teachers Union. Unions built the middle class in this country and we need to restore unions if we want to restore the middle class.

In 2020, there are many important jobs that need to be better protected, more accessible, and better rewarded. Alan will take strong steps to make sure people across the district can find good, quality, long-term work in the industries which make this district great, as well as opportunities to get trained and employed in the next generation of industries.

The Facts

  • In Donald Trump’s $2.3 trillion Tax Cuts, the richest five percent of people got 26.5 percent, the richest twenty-five percent received 52.2 percent, but the bottom twenty-five percent only got 3.3 percent of the tax cut benefits. In short, they filled the pockets of the richest at the expense of working families.
  • Union membership nationwide has declined every year of the 21st century. However, in Massachusetts, union membership has grown since 2016. We need policies at the federal level that reflect those which have worked in Massachusetts.
  • From 1979-2018 Congressional data shows that real wages for the top ten percent of Americans rose by almost 38%, but for the bottom ten percent only rose by 2%.

ALAN'S VISION

Alan will work to repeal the disastrous Trump Tax Cuts, and restore a progressive tax code that supports the working and middle class and makes sure corporations and the wealthy are paying their fair share instead of finding infinite loopholes.

Alan supports a $15 minimum wage. Adjusted for inflation, the federal minimum wage has not increased since 1968, when it was set at $8.68 (in 2016 dollars). Meanwhile, the U.S. economy has grown by 567% in the same period.

Alan will introduce legislation for Emergency Wage Support to safeguard our economy from the negative effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and other natural disasters. Wage support will allow small businesses to keep employees on their payroll when the business is impacted by a natural disaster such as pandemics, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes and wildfires. We need this policy to ensure that small businesses are not forced to close permanently during pandemics like COVID or natural disasters, and to keep millions off of unemployment lines.

Alan will help create quality small-business jobs in this district. We have amazing small-business owners, who need access to capital and some tax incentives to get a boost and grow in their community. Alan will push for a small business hiring credit and accelerated depreciation deducted capital investment for small-businesses that hire new workers, increasing the employment and small-business prosperity. He will dedicate funding streams to help further support women, minority, and veteran owned small businesses.

Alan supports the PRO Act, which would effectively make harmful “Right to Work” laws illegal by reclassifying what constitutes an employee eligible for protections under the Wagner Act of 1935.

Alan will focus on extending the “Massachusetts Miracle” to Taunton, Fall River and other formerly industrial communities in the 4th District. He will broaden job access by enacting federal policies that ensure the southern parts of Congressional District 4, communities like Taunton, Fall River, Raynham, Dighton and others, have access to the same jobs as workers in Brookline and Newton. He will work to do the same thing for Taunton and Fall River that Congressman Tsongas did for Lowell and secure federal funding as part of a larger strategic plan for these communities.

Alan will ensure that a Green New Deal creates new quality, green, union jobs in construction, transportation, renewable energy, and all other industries. Massachusetts has always been ahead of the curb on green tech, and we can turn that foresight into quality work and employment for people across this district.

Alan is committed to expanding national service immediately to 250,000 public service jobs a year as authorized by the Kennedy Serve America Act, which he worked to build the coalition to help pass. He is also committed to growing national service to 1 million people annually as soon as possible. One million new people in service could play an essential rol in COVID-19 recovery efforts while also putting talented people to work.

Alan will support our frontline communities to have the capacity to get quality education and work in the booming offshore wind sector by providing grants and resources to university students, vocational institutions, and community centers. This country needs a “just transition” to the renewables sector that includes working families and protects the most vulnerable to the crisis. Alan will continue the work of this district in passing and implementing House Bill H.R 3068 which increases funding for university and community college training in the offshore wind industry, with a special focus on displaced workers, disadvantaged communities, and veterans.