Legal Services and Access to Justice

Our goal is for victories in individual cases to bolster organizing and improve workplace conditions.

Direct Services

Since 2011, Justice at Work has provided legal services to 2,400 workers facing wage theft, injury on the job, sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and more. We have helped obtain more than $12.5 million on these workers’ behalf.

In cases that worker centers identify as strategically important, Justice at Work provides direct representation. Our watershed victories include:

Over 100 workers apply for new immigration benefit to protect their rights

Over 55 seafood processing workers turned out to the Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores (CCT) in March to learn about their rights and receive counsel from immigration attorneys. Your support allowed us to join forces with The Justice Center of Southeast Massachusetts and UMass Law School to ensure that each worker had their case reviewed, received advice and made an informed decision on whether to apply for a new form of immigration relief. Under the new policy, workers from worksites that are the targets of a government agency’s investigation can apply for work authorization if the corresponding agency writes a “letter of support” to Immigration. Thanks to our advocacy, we now expect to serve over 125 workers at a series of clinics, involving students from Harvard, Northeastern, and B.U. as well.

Worker Action Opens Door to Immigration Relief

After years of verbal and physical harassment at a tire recycling plant, Juan and his co-workers decided that enough was enough. Over twenty of them confronted their boss, demanding that he put an end to the abuses. Instead of dealing with their grievances, the boss fired Juan and the others on the spot and called the police to get them to leave. Thanks to the community support of the Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores, and the legal support of Justice at Work, Juan and his co- workers filed complaints with state and federal agencies. Justice at Work ensured that the workers understood their legal options and each agency’s process, and ensured that the authorities were able to understand the full story of the racial and country of origin discrimination and illegal retaliation rampant at Juan’s workplace. We asked the federal agency involved to write a letter to immigration authorities stating that Juan and his coworkers are key witnesses in the case and therefore deserve work authorization to ensure their participation. Our request was granted, and we are now assisting Juan and his co-workers to access this important new benefit.

Cleaning Worker Wins Backpay and More

Zoe Abreu worked arduous hours cleaning an office building in Quincy. Her employer denied Zoe and her coworkers any vacation or paid sick leave, and failed to pay them the minimum wage when it was raised in January of 2021. Zoe and several co-workers voiced their concerns to a kind tenant who felt that they deserved better treatment. The tenant shared a letter discussing the hardships the workers faced with other tenants with the hope of raising the concerns with the property owner. Soon thereafter, Zoe was fired and lost her housing as a result. Justice at Work learned of Zoe’s situation and connected her with the Matahari Women Worker’s Center, so she could receive support as we represented her before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Thanks to a brave co- worker who testified that Zoe was fired for “not keeping her mouth shut,” the NLRB process led to a settlement that provided Zoe, 100% of her backpay (the wages she lost due to the illegal firing), as well as consequential damages, including expenses she incurred for storage of her belongings. The NLRB under the Biden Administration has been pursuing consequential damages for workers as another way to hold employers accountable. Zoe’s employer has lost their contract and a unionized cleaner has taken it on. Zoe’s former co-workers now work for the new company and enjoy the benefits that come with union membership. Zoe’s case is a testament to workers that through working together, change is possible.

Referral and Liaison

Justice at Work partners with the private bar to ensure high-quality legal service for all workers. We assemble attorney referral panels and incentivize private attorneys to take a range of labor-and-employment matters. Our staff perform case intake, investigation and legal research. We then summarize the case for the interested attorney. We also accompany workers in their initial meetings with the attorney and serve as a liaison between attorney, workers, and worker center staff as cases proceed and as attorneys navigate linguistic and cultural barriers to effective representation.

Legal Services and Access to Justice

Direct Services

DIRECT SERVICE:

Over 100 workers apply for new immigration benefit to protect their rights

DIRECT SERVICE:

Worker Action Opens Door to Immigration Relief

DIRECT SERVICE:

Cleaning Worker Wins Backpay and More

Referral and Liaison

RONALDO, PAINTER, FORMER JUSTICE AT WORK CLIENT