May 1, 2026

Honoring the Courage of Workers Across Central and Western Massachusetts

BY Attorney Rory MacAneney & Madison O’Brien, Employment Law UnitCommunity Legal Aid

On May 1^st, workers around the world recognize International Workers’ Day, or May Day. Originally chosen to honor workers who fought for the eight-hour workday and were met with violent repression in the 1886 Haymarket Incident, May Day has come to symbolize the fight for fairness, safety, and dignity at work.

No one should be forced to choose between a paycheck and their rights at work. Yet every day, workers face retaliation, discrimination, and pressure to stay silent when they dare to ask for the basic protections they are entitled to under the law. At Community Legal Aid, we represent workers across Central and Western Massachusetts from nurses and home health aides to warehouse and retail workers and more who have been harassed for exercising those rights, demoted, fired, and denied unemployment benefits.

When workers speak up — whether it is a nurse raising patient safety concerns, or a laborer reporting sexual harassment — they are acting in the public interest and engaging in protected activity. Many don’t realize that state and federal law protect a variety of workers (such as healthcare workers and public sector workers) who speak up about illegal or unsafe conditions at work. These laws also prohibit their employers from retaliating against them. Having rights on paper does not guarantee they will be respected in practice. Enforcement of these laws relies on workers having the courage to come forward. Too often, however, they pay the price.

Pregnant workers face a different, but equally serious, challenge. Many are denied opportunities and basic accommodations like modified duties, additional breaks, or short-term leave. Instead of support, they face hostility and uncertainty. The law is clear: workers should not be forced out of a job because of pregnancy or pregnancy-related needs.

We represent workers when their employers break the law; we bring claims before administrative agencies and in state and federal courts, help workers navigate unemployment benefits, and educate workers about their rights. We seek relief for those workers who are harmed, and challenge practices to prevent harm to others.

The workers we represent often face immense pressure. They speak up anyway. Often, they tell us that they are speaking up not just for themselves, but for their co-workers, their families, and their communities. This May Day, we honor their courage and renew our commitment to advancing workplaces where doing the right thing doesn’t come at the cost of a livelihood.

If you believe your rights have been violated, visit www.communitylegal.org to learn more.