[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6272777,"mediaKeyId","3026116-147ec4b623965e39ae3ca5e5483dcac9","parentId",3026116,"title","State Labor Secretary Outlines Workforce Strategy, Apprenticeships and UI Modernization","audioSeconds",765,"startMs",2881000,"endMs",3646000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3026116-147ec4b623965e39ae3ca5e5483dcac9&start=2881&end=3646","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3026116-147ec4b623965e39ae3ca5e5483dcac9/thumbnail_2881000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6272777/Massachusetts/State-Labor-Secretary-Outlines-Workforce-Strategy-Apprenticeships-and-UI-Modernization","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272777-ca32845693e48695637163de9ca85208/orig.mp4?Expires=1771046923&Signature=CE4wReolhVmpHUwPWpXaWjKMiaz~Wqcd3NRIpDmXDFcSVqz-CZbWMr2TsJKtGoMfGuH2ai0Qt01A3Y4Qd51BJ9P~~H25057aUwwtELqaZYs~jbmP28P3TRgakFo59Omt52XIgBx~cwmZdbVk-zar6PvsVk6af1UScl4lD~4sXQ97YGgYepjXj81~jI-yFdP9vKdOs2UVBvidbRRzPsHs13ftLMEMlf00H8wI7lsTMVudF0PURfIFw3AbnMi8Jto13GA5RvsiCJrv3610q0pbwX6dHzXLwP527ueoP1v2~D4oScwH9xexLBHg4td1skeuNOQVplODJOtBFO-RUWyxFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Massachusetts State Legislature","date","2025-04-16T00:00:00Z","article","Secretary Lauren Jones of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) provided an overview of the administration’s workforce agenda and FY2026 budget priorities at the April 16 hearing, laying out program details and recent performance metrics.

Jones said the administration’s FY2026 H.1 budget recommendation includes $112,900,000 for EOLWD programs and highlighted investments across eight departments that carry out career services, labor standards, apprenticeship oversight and workers’ compensation. She described cross‑secretariat collaborations on workforce issues, including the Workforce Skills Cabinet chaired by the secretary.

On training programs, Jones noted that the Workforce Training Fund leveraged roughly $37.2 million in grant awards during fiscal year 2024 and supported training for about 27,900 workers that year; the fund typically maintains an annual budget near $20 million. The department also ran a five‑month Workforce Skills Fund pilot using ARPA dollars that provided $3,000–$5,000 stipends and supported just over 1,100 unemployed or underemployed participants in training, Jones said.

EOLWD reported apprenticeship growth: the Division of Apprentice Standards registered more than 4,000 new apprentices and pre‑apprentices and approved more than 100 new programs, including expansion into fields such as early education, health care, life sciences and technology.

Jones described the Employment Modernization and Transformation (EMT) project — a replacement for the current online unemployment insurance (UI) claimant system — saying the new UI interface will be mobile friendly, accessible, multilingual and use plain language. The department is finishing phase two and preparing for rollout.

On the UI trust fund, Jones said the administration inherited a multibillion‑dollar UI liability and is engaged in outreach to find long‑term solvency solutions that do not unnecessarily burden employers or workers. She said the department will continue to work with the legislature and stakeholders on options.

The secretary also urged the committee to consider how appropriation language should accommodate the incremental costs of collective bargaining and fringe benefits for public employees. Committee members expressed appreciation and asked for follow‑up briefings; Jones offered to provide additional materials and staff briefings.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development - 4-16-2025 11:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones briefed the committee on the administration’s workforce agenda, FY2026 budget recommendation, apprenticeship growth and an unemployment insurance modernization project, and said state officials are working on long‑term solvency of the UI trust fund.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MA, Massachusetts","taxId",77682,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6272781,"Witness Urges Constitutional Amendment to Guarantee 'Employable Skills' Training",328,270000,598000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3026116-147ec4b623965e39ae3ca5e5483dcac9&start=270&end=598","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3026116-147ec4b623965e39ae3ca5e5483dcac9/thumbnail_270000.jpg","/articles/6272781/Massachusetts/Witness-Urges-Constitutional-Amendment-to-Guarantee-Employable-Skills-Training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272781-105583e0c77b41fa7da49a2b06ed5e22/orig.mp4?Expires=1771046923&Signature=Ackc6A2N84ShMVI1x62PbxYF6HR4Soo6eAWMIXdSJ~P2wBkueNmyUgucOoZE-o6gexI-s7w7kAVlRT-aL-zHRNyRbkRtGfu7LVNvxCABxF023kh390ilcq2rAyx4AeRkIWRrcOhF84uty3Oi2c~KmvGztffVLiYE9kLuyuF6wamPpE171S84cP~n0jZJqEGJvGkeBIYKQOs7uMta1B0AB5JFJl2HSA9fNxILryyYXwzCGmo3CbT9IOt4MXSRzb1qBvvWRRbj-Xhdf6xFHxRSyQ6wU-dbVh22UsCJnmuDU7Az6H3s3NQ8DXApPUQVj-T4MrWbqVM939kILKtazZREMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A proponent of a constitutional amendment to guarantee a right to “employable skills training” testified before the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development on April 16, urging lawmakers to recommend House 70.

Vincent Lawrence Dixon called for a constitutional amendment that would secure opportunities for continuing education, technical training and retraining across life spans so residents could adapt to changing industries and technologies. Dixon described the proposal as one of a “triad” that also includes proposed constitutional rights to health care and to housing.

“This is one of those bills that could distinctly reset a comprehensive and dynamic set of processes for continued and strengthened success in our society,” Dixon said, arguing that greater access to retraining could help workers whose industries vanish or who lose jobs because of technological change.

In testimony, Dixon described his background as a historian and lifelong advocate, and said the amendment language is drafted to be “clear, concise, and comprehensive.” He asked the committee for a favorable recommendation on House 70. Committee members thanked him and asked a few clarifying questions about his background; no formal action was taken during the hearing.

","Vincent Lawrence Dixon told the committee he is seeking a constitutional amendment (House 70) to create a right to employable skills training as part of a broader package that also includes proposed constitutional rights to housing and health care.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6272789,"Private and Nonprofit Colleges Seek Narrow Wage‑act Fix After Class‑action Suits",336,1798000,2134000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3026116-147ec4b623965e39ae3ca5e5483dcac9&start=1798&end=2134","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3026116-147ec4b623965e39ae3ca5e5483dcac9/thumbnail_1798000.jpg","/articles/6272789/Massachusetts/Private-and-Nonprofit-Colleges-Seek-Narrow-Wageact-Fix-After-Classaction-Suits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272789-e50b5d6139e7eb5a2f2914aca8daeb15/orig.mp4?Expires=1771046923&Signature=XBFTg2zldEB688NqLNUs9KtgV6ZbjGy1wHjhN4ciHk5-Z9t22n7WsUh--3mhO2CU~zCYXUfR6ubV3W7BS6Gyibk0SiGIGxcSJTxbMhNxLYL9gORjqar~rznp~gjxb8Cokulu6AefA84hcuNzoB1ek7pBpAckv~~JZtgQVvSyf1JMkWDxXzalPgMuItJDUoFPCSTX0JFy49Ru-P~4ga3CgS1QejZqCEVYhieBIIGA79TIMSh9OOmAelcW6h-jti8rcsJkC3seAQX6kr~T6Zs5TyzJmcfSXAFwAr~P4mh-laEriuTQHy4peoDe46oox35PdVS2O6aqAFAtxCcDqBJuxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Massachusetts (AICUM) told the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development on April 16 that House Bill 2164 and Senate Bill 1369 are needed to correct an unintended consequence in the Massachusetts Wage Act exposed by recent class‑action litigation.

Rob McCarron, president of AICUM, said four recent class suits target nonprofit colleges although employees were paid their regular wages on scheduled pay dates. McCarron said the Supreme Judicial Court’s 2022 decision in Reuter v. City of Malden exposed a statutory interpretation that allows automatic trebling of damages applied to underlying wages, dramatically increasing potential awards.

“Because of the SJC decision in the Reuters case, [trebling] greatly amplifies the potential damages in a way that does not align with the legislative intent of the statute,” McCarron said. He warned that the exposure could put “hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars” at issue and threaten institutions’ ability to serve students.

McCarron identified the four institutions named in the class suits as Amherst College, Boston University, Harvard University and Curry College. He said the suits allege technical inconsistencies in pay timing but do not claim employees were paid less than owed.

AICUM asked the committee to treat employees of nonprofit colleges consistently with statutory exemptions the Wage Act provides for other employment types and to preserve the statute’s force against genuinely unscrupulous employers.

Committee members asked follow‑up questions about the list of institutions and the practical effects of any statutory change. No committee votes were taken at the session.

","The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Massachusetts urged the committee to pass legislation (H.2164, S.1369) to clarify wage‑act exemptions for nonprofit colleges after class actions placed large treble damages at issue following a 2022 SJC ruling.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6272794,"Lawmakers Hear Broad Support for Bills to Raise Wages at Public Colleges",3587,666000,4253000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3026116-147ec4b623965e39ae3ca5e5483dcac9&start=666&end=4253","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3026116-147ec4b623965e39ae3ca5e5483dcac9/thumbnail_666000.jpg","/articles/6272794/Massachusetts/Lawmakers-Hear-Broad-Support-for-Bills-to-Raise-Wages-at-Public-Colleges","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272794-32865599a7f23edd747cfdb13609919f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771046923&Signature=njB6bW1HEbvfZMsPL89BQ7EY7EmMN3ZbFV3GMe08nzjRoIovMmFAGLFy2PXZJFT1YcRDeUv6krGeaVEo5UrBrdhiMGFdZbK~PtiOJAp3vUVO0KQPcU-VLkg2f8j~20rjoVznJLv97ZppTKxOMmEflAGr9eagLq~AyL6dKZwJdUUGZ0U-r3iijERRljzMsZDlsumSiunpZ~h5q~KrDxcKN1-FqjIwdOSoLsaoE0-Icp4UaM6A5wvmpm2q1opgzCvGEIHJ3D9aLsPSI9JFPdMExhHmH0Q27vEepvxrC0GalKCMcrXzLaAFP~nq2NYpVpT-jmCZjcfDJOxnrk7jV6MvUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lawmakers heard unified testimony on April 16 urging passage of House Bill 2185 and Senate Bill 1365, measures that would raise wages for employees at Massachusetts public colleges and universities and provide funding mechanisms to cover collective bargaining increases.

Supporters told the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development that low pay is undercutting recruitment and retention across the state college system and harming students’ classroom experience. Max Page, president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, and faculty, union and campus leaders described wide gaps between local pay and national, cost‑of‑living‑adjusted averages.

“The other part of that equation is that when we welcome in new students…we are seeing huge growth in numbers in our community colleges,” Max Page said. “We want to welcome them to the very best experience. And that means making sure we are paying our staff and our faculty fair wages.”

Union and campus witnesses cited evidence collected by the MTA: the association represents 115,000 educators overall and about 15,000 employees at public colleges and universities; an MTA‑commissioned survey of its members drew about 3,000 responses. Witnesses said community college faculty are especially low paid — the MTA testimony said community college pay is roughly 48 percent below the national, cost‑adjusted average for that sector.

Claudine Barnes, president of the Massachusetts Community College Council and a faculty member at Cape Cod Community College, told the committee many community college employees hold multiple jobs and rely on campus food banks. “We have full time faculty and staff who are utilizing our college food banks,” Barnes said. “It is unsustainable.”

College presidents joining the panel also urged action. Jim Van der Hoven, president of Mount Wachusett Community College, said free community college has raised enrollments and made the need to fund faculty and fringe benefits more pressing. “Our faculty and staff have waited months after a CBA is authorized to receive the raises that they are expecting,” he said, urging separate operating appropriations to cover collective bargaining costs.

Business groups and alumni also testified in support. JC Morales, a finance executive and UMass Amherst alumnus, said employers rely on public higher education to supply talent and warned that pay gaps harm the state’s competitiveness for graduates.

Committee members asked witnesses for underlying studies and data; Page and others said they would submit the full wage study and survey results to the committee. No formal votes were taken at the hearing.

The hearing included repeated requests that any approved raises be funded so institutions will not delay or shift costs to students; witnesses recommended dedicated operating lines to cover the incremental costs of collective bargaining agreements and state‑funded fringe benefits.

If advanced, the bills would move through the committee process in both chambers for further hearings and potential amendments.

","Teachers, college presidents and business leaders urged the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development to pass House Bill 2185 and Senate Bill 1365 to bring public higher‑education salaries closer to national, cost‑of‑living‑adjusted averages and to fully fund collective bargaining increases.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

State Labor Secretary Outlines Workforce Strategy, Apprenticeships and UI Modernization

Witness Urges Constitutional Amendment to Guarantee 'Employable Skills' Training

Private and Nonprofit Colleges Seek Narrow Wage‑act Fix After Class‑action Suits

Lawmakers Hear Broad Support for Bills to Raise Wages at Public Colleges