Your Page Header Title

Event Overview Date: Sunday, September 6th Location: Nonotuck Park, Pavilion #3, Easthampton, MA Time: 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm Cost: Free Parking: Free if you RSVP, $3 per vehicle non-registrants. Who: Open to union members, families, and supporters of the labor movement  Food We will have food catered by a local business. Activities The WMALF is organizing kid-friendly games and activities for this event! Families are welcome to attend. If you, your organization, or local would like to provide a game or activity, reach out to organizer@wmalf.org and eleb7983@gmail.com.  Tabling Organizations that sponsor the event at any level may table at the event. Here’s what you need to know: You must provide your own table.  Set-up for tables is from 12:00 - 12:45. 

March with unions in the Springfield Puerto Rican Parade! The Western Mass Area Labor Federation, MNA, and other unions will march together in the Springfield Puerto Rican parade this year! RSVP today to get updates about marching in our contingent! Gather with us at the corner of Wason & Main St in Springfield at 9 am. Wear your union shirt! Want to march with us as a union? Email mbadillo@mnarn.org and organizer@wmalf.org to join the contingent! Participating Unions: IUPAT DC 35 Painters, Mass Nurses Association, SEIU 1199, UNITE-HERE New England Joint Board -- Marcha con los sindicatos al desfile Puertorriqueño de Springfield   La Federación Sindical del Área de Massachusetts Occidental, MNA, y otros sindicatos van a machar al desfile Puertorriqueño de Springfield.  Reúne con nosotros a la esquina de Wason y Main en Springfield a 9 en la mañana. Usa tu camisa del sindicato.  ¿Pregunatas? Contacte mbadillo@mnarn.org y organizer@wmalf.org.

Have you just been appointed as a delegate from your union to the Area Labor Federation? Been a delegate for a while, but want a refresher on our work? Sign up for a delegate orientation today. We offer online and in-person trainings. In-person trainings usually happen the evening of the monthly delegates meeting, so you can learn what it means to be a delegate and then dive into your first meeting! If you have any questions, or need an orientation session outside the scheduled times, email the Field Organizer at organizer@wmalf.org! 

Join us in-person or online for the Western Mass ALF Delegates Meeting. Any member of an ALF affiliate union may attend the delegates meeting, but only delegates may vote. ALF Delegate Meetings are Hybrid. RSVP here to receive the zoom link. Physical location schedule: July 13th, 2026 - WMALF Office, 640 Page Blvd, Springfield, MA Future dates - TBD

Come to the Hampshire-Franklin Assembly to get involved and learn about union organizing in Hampshire and Franklin County. September Meeting Discussion: We will discuss organizing for Payment in leiu of taxes (PILOT) programs in Western Mass.  This event is open to all working class people who are looking to organize, whether or not they are a member of an Area Labor Federation Affiliate Union.

Union stewards are the first line of defense for union members! Learn the basics of being a union steward from fellow union members in the Area Labor Federation’s introductory training. Explore key topics like Weingarten rights, Just Cause principles, fighting grievances, and more! Over the course of the day-long training we will cover: An organizing approach to addressing workplace issues and building union power. Weingarten rights and other legal protections for union stewards and workers. Filing information requests and investigating potential grievances Just Cause Principles and writing a strong grievance and more... This training will be led by members of the Western MA Area Labor Federation's Education Committee, bringing decades of practical experience in union organizing. Our training programs are open to members of any union. We believe that when we bring members of different unions together, we can learn from each other and build skills. About the Western MA Area Labor Federation The Western Massachusetts Area Labor Federation is a coalition of more than 60 local unions from across Western Massachusetts dedicated to building power and a better world for all working people. We bring together workers and leaders from different unions, trades, and towns to build a stronger and more unified voice for the more than 50,000 union members and the hundreds of thousands of non-union workers across Western Massachusetts. The WMALF brings people together, turns union members out in solidarity with each other’s fights, makes political endorsements, gets out the vote, and helps coordinate multiple union campaigns. We are committed to working together to build grassroots power, coordinating work on common campaigns, and pooling our resources to maximize the Labor Movement’s effectiveness throughout Western Massachusetts.

The Education Committee of the Western MA Area Labor Federation has a simple, but important mission: building the skills, knowledge, and competency of the regional labor movement. Our programs cover topics including introductory steward trainings, labor law & workplace safety, contract campaigns, labor history, and more! Our events are generally free and open to the public, though there may be exceptions. We ask that participants RSVP, which will also give you access to the zoom link for online events. Getting Involved in the Education Committee Are you passionate about education? We are always happy to include new members in our education committee. If you are interested, email the education committee chair Jerry Levinsky (MTA-MSP) to learn more: jerry.levinsky@gmail.com.

The ALF Board and COPE Committee meet on the first Monday of every month from 5:00 - 6:30 pm online.  What is the ALF Board? The ALF Board is the leadership body of the Western Mass Area Labor Federation. The board is responsible for leading the ALF between delegate meetings. Board meetings are open to observation by all ALF delegates, but only board members may vote. What is the COPE Committee? The Committee on Political Education (COPE) is responsible for the ALF endorsement process, our work with elected officials, lobbying, and advocacy. All of the members of the ALF board are automatically members of the COPE Committee.  I am a delegate. How do I join the COPE Committee? Delegates may ask to be appointed as additional members of the COPE Committee by the President with the approval of the board. Contact the ALF President, Ethel Everett, to learn more.

Learn the basics of organizing for a stronger contract! This training will cover: Organizing your members to support your contract campaign Assessing the needs of your membership Basics of bargaining The rights and responsibilities of management in bargaining Escalating series of actions and applying pressure during the bargaining process This training will be led by members of the Western MA Area Labor Federation's Education Committee, bringing decades of practical experience in union organizing. Our training programs are open to members of any union. We believe that when we bring members of different unions together, we can learn from each other and build skills.

Join us for a training on using UNION POWER to address discrimination and harassment in the workplace. We'll cover: Types of discrimination Burden of Proof State and Federal Enforcement Role of Collective Bargaining Agreements Grievance Handling Organizing Approaches There will be an hour-long lunch break. A microwave and refrigerator are available on site.  This training will be led by members of the Western MA Area Labor Federation's Education Committee, bringing decades of practical experience in union organizing. Our training programs are open to members of any union. We believe that when we bring members of different unions together, we can learn from each other and build skills.