[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6207824,"mediaKeyId","3752428-ec9ddc5b2742548cb5da0b166142e879","parentId",3752428,"title","Workforce association backs bill to share unemployment wage data with local workforce system","audioSeconds",186,"startMs",6680000,"endMs",6866000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3752428-ec9ddc5b2742548cb5da0b166142e879&start=6680&end=6866","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3752428-ec9ddc5b2742548cb5da0b166142e879/thumbnail_6680000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6207824/Massachusetts/Workforce-association-backs-bill-to-share-unemployment-wage-data-with-local-workforce-system","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207824-4a733c331fa235e0b9e1eada6144801e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447607&Signature=YDvRu5dADs50Gsy9oK2XHQQGHvo0uDmqfwaGgKScXXVf91Loby4McOQwHrDLuZhTeX8Dg4VBeVLp-VIPHQYipvE0kTmAZXSOEQAPREWaA7jHowT3bAJrhCuQz1WGOm87mlJ4-LhBS5haoQ1SkEcg9egzhpO~APzjunG--QYkrHBIjmDZfQlJub6L~k839LN5Bu3Rdy-xwz8vjmQOCLtf51fUcIesD0DHSr7B2j89YSW9RWUcbKtPhun7UAQ3f3GSbuwMven0rvTMUU8b60sllK6Nr8iyEKiPygOUKFttqfGfwWH4O73FJ-KzNnSO38or0grS3Fgw-ziHpG7afve5rw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development","date","2025-06-10T00:00:00Z","article","The Massachusetts Workforce Association urged the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development to support H.2171/S.1340, legislation to grant workforce organizations timely access to Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) wage records for evaluation of employment outcomes.

\"The Massachusetts workforce association believes strongly that Massachusetts workforce system should be supported by a data system that makes use of the latest and best technology,\" Cole Anglia, executive director of the association, testified. He said access to DUA wage data would let career centers and workforce boards measure participant employment outcomes more reliably than surveys and better assess equity across programs and regions.

Anglia said the bill would use existing reporting mechanisms between DUA and the Department of Career Services and would not place additional reporting burdens on employers. The legislation also proposes a task force to work through privacy, technical and governance issues before full implementation.

Supporters argued the measure is consistent with practices in other states — California, New York, Kentucky and Oregon were cited — and would support continuous improvement of workforce programs without exposing individual employer data. The committee did not take a formal vote; proponents asked for further study and a favorable report to develop technical safeguards and the task force approach.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development - 6/10/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Massachusetts Workforce Association and workforce partners urged passage of H.2171/S.1340 to allow timely access to Department of Unemployment Assistance wage records so local workforce boards can evaluate program outcomes and equity.","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},6207830,"Senator pitches voluntary four‑day workweek pilot, citing productivity and wellbeing studies",527,4331000,4858000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3752428-ec9ddc5b2742548cb5da0b166142e879&start=4331&end=4858","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3752428-ec9ddc5b2742548cb5da0b166142e879/thumbnail_4331000.jpg","/articles/6207830/Massachusetts/Senator-pitches-voluntary-fourday-workweek-pilot-citing-productivity-and-wellbeing-studies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207830-c9e0306f6e02163efb4e6ffcfc3f1154/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447607&Signature=okqmp8eZRWm47XVCI55mVnsSXDg51iV7Fl~qQHw0OAXumuhESxOOmvbXlckOjmS58weUthCY5AqtNiLJPicili0ZLiLcVQ9NjK5XPOJRIYrnioHOGpMZmaTih12pnj8~xp6mH3SdrvBwLVhUWjKpkeV9qtlHt-HXVqGBqmUBkf1pDZZfQmdWQrtCBB3dcLKz2AqKT7F8VHxp3yJtwI0IilVU6CNTxZ9W-HzyHHFIhi4wvHvKpp8A3VDesJkLsAJgTZeyRxb1vxaIIK1tkKsNSsBd13lua-d-WRLPcFgIBXENkrxxHub0XE5e9lUjAdJBhdubz-47CXv6MKHBqCO9Sw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Dylan Fernandez told the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development that S.1330 would establish a voluntary pilot in Massachusetts to test the effects of a four‑day workweek on employee wellbeing and employer outcomes.

\"The 40 hour work week was established, created in 1938,\" Fernandez said, arguing that technological gains and rising productivity justify rethinking hours. He cited research, including work by a Boston College research center, and international pilots showing maintained or improved productivity and improved retention and recruitment for participating employers.

Fernandez framed the proposal as voluntary for employers, with a built‑in evaluation by Massachusetts researchers to assess whether the model suits varied industries and sectors in the Commonwealth. He pointed to international examples and a global pilot in which a majority of firms that participated elected to continue the practice after the trial period.

Committee members asked no substantive follow‑ups during the hearing. No formal action was taken on the bill at the session; the senator requested a favorable report to allow a Massachusetts‑specific pilot and evaluation to proceed.","Senator Dylan Fernandez urged the committee to support S.1330, a voluntary pilot program to study four‑day workweek impacts on workers and employers in Massachusetts, citing research that shows productivity gains and worker wellbeing benefits in other pilots.",{"_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},6207834,"Supporters tell committee paid prenatal leave would improve access to essential prenatal care",577,4689000,5266000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3752428-ec9ddc5b2742548cb5da0b166142e879&start=4689&end=5266","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3752428-ec9ddc5b2742548cb5da0b166142e879/thumbnail_4689000.jpg","/articles/6207834/Massachusetts/Supporters-tell-committee-paid-prenatal-leave-would-improve-access-to-essential-prenatal-care","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207834-947f4020e670bf3eeca883e3700d11e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447607&Signature=kmoPGnU0jnot5Dri55H0cI57OHAbvOor3HWjZ5J-r2xAGvSAiyaWcjEg693azNXU~2xSC~wbXT1u2hlZGB6K2J4RmhHuE4AgaeN90sRDNJm7FDR9I-SKk6k0yaj79cYd8TQo90ZxXHmMSyadVJeGf3SdqmPhp6wmKd7uLlOgQiMhHAUaDFxtpYKD2oMy0uYbJ8gUMAbNw3Wd5kdLM51nXtDUw865lDAdNTpbT0lXnxdTzhpvbOxmBF4AmOWTSH6pvxpWBCw3nJk39b4wGtzZv6yILH5kP6qX7wRHdkv9XKRJzhYoNScwf2LnY8Cyn45lZkhT0asRTOIcDY~v-AfZZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Healthcare advocates, bereavement counselors, parents and March of Dimes representatives urged the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development to recommend S.1361, an act establishing paid prenatal leave, arguing that paid time off for prenatal appointments would improve access to care and reduce preventable complications.

\"Prenatal appointments are not routine check ins ... They are actually critical for monitoring both the health of the birthing parent and the baby,\" said Jen Rogalski of Maternal Bereavement Support in testimony supporting the bill. Rogalski described personal experience with stillbirth and said paid time would have supported more robust shared participation by partners in prenatal care.

Chloe Schwartz, March of Dimes director for maternal and infant health in the Boston market, told the committee, \"We are seeing 2 birthing persons die every single day and 2 babies dying every hour across The US,\" and argued that missed appointments — reported in Massachusetts as more than one in ten mothers not receiving adequate prenatal care — delay detection of life‑threatening complications. Testimony described S.1361 as broader than recently enacted policies in some states by including higher leave allotments and paid time for partners.

Multiple parents described the practical scheduling burden of prenatal care. \"I was shocked to find out that I would have 15 appointments throughout my pregnancy,\" said Ashley Sawhwin, who described balancing work schedules and limited paid time off. Nicole Hunt recounted a pregnancy that required roughly 25 extra hours of prenatal care; she contrasted her own paid‑time‑off support with a birth mother's experience in an adoption process who had to rely on community kindness to reach appointments.

Witnesses described how paid prenatal leave could prevent parents from skipping appointments, allow partners to attend critical visits, and increase early detection of conditions such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia. Several presenters noted that prenatal care schedules are known in advance, enabling employers and employees to plan.

No committee action or vote was recorded at the conclusion of the hearing. Witnesses requested a favorable report to enable further policy and fiscal analysis. The proponents asked the committee to consider equitable coverage for hourly workers and to ensure that any policy includes both the birthing parent and their partner.","Clinicians, parents and March of Dimes advocates urged the committee to back S.1361, a bill to establish paid prenatal leave for birthing parents and partners to attend medical appointments and improve maternal and infant outcomes.",{"_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},6207838,"Building trades back bill to require apprentices on public construction projects",399,3143000,3542000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3752428-ec9ddc5b2742548cb5da0b166142e879&start=3143&end=3542","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3752428-ec9ddc5b2742548cb5da0b166142e879/thumbnail_3143000.jpg","/articles/6207838/Massachusetts/Building-trades-back-bill-to-require-apprentices-on-public-construction-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207838-d0d6856c1037928dc509b6484fff73e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447607&Signature=nkHs0U5iICvgt2BABbTym-bp7wWjCuylxfkZtCAxU9uk7G-SfWqnMXFZHZp-te~aY-IUkvhpTTfdmEYiUE1~xUymEGNhCRo44TSFJX4ToUoS5t2GmlGrYxZS-0AAT6RtweQmUSVsHW~SYWiSO3pV0gPHuemuECbxXODtsl~ydt9fyQ7pxAqpvC5eNQAaaLCWesIPInzv4ApZaQSchJSmNB91SJbNLjLUTF6AMaYB2UBHusNPL0X2NREjIKFnLI0psabP4AHHuk0ieRbRYHZKdth1HCby5YL8V5GyShqbyAtS3UrsfP310iMA3plzFHh00mdTI4FPwyUTsibxUcrWyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of the Massachusetts Building Trades, registered apprenticeship programs and construction unions urged the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development to support H.2085 and S.1303, legislation that would require a growing percentage of on‑site work hours on public construction projects over $1,000,000 be performed by registered apprentices.

\"This legislation requires that public construction projects in excess of a million dollars actually utilize apprentices,\" Frank Callahan, president of the Massachusetts Building Trade Unions, testified. He and other union witnesses described the rule as a way to guarantee the on‑the‑job hours apprentices need to progress through multi‑year training and to expand the pipeline of skilled workers.

The bill proposes phased targets: starting at 5 percent of project hours, increasing to 10 percent and then 15 percent over approximately two years (testimony described a graduated scale of 5, 10 and 15 percent). Apprentices and training directors described how on‑site hours — not just classroom instruction — are essential for licensure and safe work. \"Massachusetts sets the bar of electrical license for a reason,\" said Renee Leona Dozier, a licensed journeyman electrician and business agent at IBEW Local 103, defending current ratio and classroom/work-hour requirements.

Apprentices and program directors said the requirement would create consistent opportunities for apprentices to log the hours needed to complete their programs, reduce completion delays tied to market cycles, and maintain a local skilled workforce for public projects. Apprentices described registered programs as \"earn-as-you-learn\" pathways that provide wages, health benefits and retirement and noted high demand: unions regularly receive two to three times more applicants than available slots.

Supporters framed the proposal as complementary to prevailing wage and workforce development goals and as an investment in long‑term, local workforce capacity. They asked the committee for a favorable report; no formal legislative action was taken in the hearing.

","Unions urged the committee to favor H.2085/S.1303, which would phase in a requirement that a portion of work hours on public construction projects over $1 million be performed by registered apprentices to expand training opportunities and ensure on‑the‑job hours needed to complete apprenticeships.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6207845,"Supporters urge statewide ESOL strategy to address long waitlists, connect classes to jobs",2748,500000,3248000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3752428-ec9ddc5b2742548cb5da0b166142e879&start=500&end=3248","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3752428-ec9ddc5b2742548cb5da0b166142e879/thumbnail_500000.jpg","/articles/6207845/Massachusetts/Supporters-urge-statewide-ESOL-strategy-to-address-long-waitlists-connect-classes-to-jobs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207845-2c05b610be0cbd67429347eeec2ba8b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447607&Signature=CzUquEB1Gf-m5JofoVyAnd~OWbUJGx5VthmAoKT4cgp3N3Ibs52KjRH2LtS4Nq9vv6vvtt~jnAaFpqAU2AXnuxiO~AG5iExXU0gk5lVNhvBul92iF4p2UqnIwi~AsqTQna~SUrZApu7ggZroBke5ETnt2tqnDvedUK74u0rt0Q~4dRHyp9pCAzToW48Vy5ienKy36fud5ITZRRY~xvfInU5AqzTcSEVkCimiWUL1KWP86fXnkAuScTrlvs8tkn-wu6~Ns33Y19KSwrOgBO7oyICSdZoHcKwxkyJh2rXFVTMi1xndQohjy1OH5CZSiiW6Fm5KVG~BPMRUB9isMHvDAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Supporters of H.2080 and S.1326 told the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development that Massachusetts needs a coordinated strategy to expand English-for-speakers-of-other-languages (ESOL) services, connect classroom instruction to job pathways and reduce multi-year waitlists that block immigrants from filling workforce vacancies.

The Boston Foundation's vice president for public affairs, Keith Mahoney, told the committee, \"Investing in English for speakers of other language programs isn't just social good, it's smart economic strategy.\" He cited a 2020 report showing a large mismatch between demand and available seats and urged the committee to report the bill favorably.

The bill would authorize an executive-level coordinator to develop a statewide plan and better align ESOL funding, program design and employer needs. \"This is absolutely a workforce issue,\" Andre Green, executive director of SkillWorks, said, describing roughly 140,000 foreign-born workers in Massachusetts who are underemployed or not using their credentials. Green and other witnesses pointed to studies and program evaluations showing earnings gains for participants and argued that vocationally contextualized ESOL — classes that teach the language and vocabulary used in specific jobs — produces stronger employment outcomes.

Ben Foreman of the Massing Policy Center said the state's ESOL delivery is \"decentralized [and] fragmented,\" operated across community-based organizations, workforce agencies, higher education and K–12, with no single plan or quarterback. Testimony from Amy Grinder of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) and practitioners confirmed the mismatch: despite increased state funding over the last decade, waitlists have remained at \"over 20,000\" and average reported wait times approach two years. Witnesses said federal funding has decreased while demand has grown, contributing to geographic gaps where some communities lack state-funded seats.

Providers and employers described program models that combine language instruction with employment services. Amy Nischman of JVS Boston promoted pilots that teach workplace English paired with career coaching; Claudia Green of English for New Bostonians described employer partnerships that run on-site training; and Elise Doksevich, CEO of Alpha Chemical Services, recounted investing roughly $120,000 in an on-site English program that led to promotions and retention.

Advocates detailed what job‑focused ESOL looks like in practice: teaching workers how to say \"I am available to work from this time to this time,\" role‑play for calling a supervisor, and industry vocabulary for healthcare or weatherization work. Community representatives gave examples: Gia Navarro recounted winning a business pitch after taking an English-for-entrepreneurs class; Nikki Nesbeth, Caribbean Youth Club executive director, described translating weatherization training for Haitian Creole speakers so they could access $25‑per‑hour Mass Save jobs.

Committee members did not take a formal vote during the hearing. Witnesses asked the committee to recommend a favorable report so the proposal could proceed to fiscal and policy review. Proponents emphasized that a statewide coordinator and strategy would allow layering of public, private and philanthropic investments and target vocational ESOL where employer demand and regional workforce shortages intersect.

Supporters asked the committee to consider metrics for success — seats added, waitlist reduction and job placement — and to ensure interagency coordination across the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and the Office for Refugees and Immigrants.

If reported favorably, the bill would not itself appropriate funds; proponents said legislative backing would help catalyze more state, federal and private investment in vocational ESOL.

","Nonprofits, businesses and immigrant advocates urged the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development to approve H.2080/S.1326, which would create a coordinated statewide strategy for English-for-speakers-of-other-languages (ESOL) focused on workforce outcomes and reducing long waitlists.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Workforce association backs bill to share unemployment wage data with local workforce system

Senator pitches voluntary four‑day workweek pilot, citing productivity and wellbeing studies

Supporters tell committee paid prenatal leave would improve access to essential prenatal care

Building trades back bill to require apprentices on public construction projects

Supporters urge statewide ESOL strategy to address long waitlists, connect classes to jobs