BARGAIN
TOGETHER
ÉOR LOSE
ALONE
BARGAIN
TOGETHER
ÉOR LOSE
All
over the Boston area, tenants have organized. We have formed tenant associations and tenant unions to
protect our homes. We have
negotiated with large landlords to get collective bargaining agreements that
cover hundreds and hundreds of households. These agreements allow for moderate rent increases, prevent
no-fault evictions, and protect Sec. 8 tenants. In some cases they allow for grievance procedures. Now, some real estate corporations are
saying they refuse to talk to their tenant associations. They refuse to bargain collectively.
Real
estate corporations have made very good profits, even under our agreements;
nevertheless, some insist they will only talk with individuals. ThatŐs no good. An individual canŐt bargain effectively
with a corporation. We need
collective bargaining – labor and tenant unions – to make the
playing field just a little bit more level. Increasingly, the labor and tenant movements are cooperating
to defend that right. After all, the
same people are in each movement!
Many small owners also support the right to bargain collectively with corporations. Small owners, tenants and workers are often the same people; we have much more in common with each other than any of us do with large corporations that put profits above all else. We all believe in community, not just the bottom line.
All of us need to work together to urge government at all levels to support the right to organize. We ask the Boston City Council to support a law that protects the right of tenants to bargain collectively. Tenants will stand with labor to oppose anti-union decisions and support the Employee Free Choice Act.
and bargain collectively.
Both pix: Rallies in front
of Mayo Group offices
On how to get involved
And how to protect your home
Call City Life/Vida Urbana
617-524-3541
X303, x310, x314, x315 English
x303 Spanish