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Here to win,

here to stay!

Join Western Massachusetts Labor Action (WMLA), an association of, by and for Western Massachusetts’ lowest paid workers. Volunteers Urgently Needed!

call:413-443-9862
WMLA has:

Built unprecedented organization of a new type of low-income workers.

Signed up workers throughout the county, from the towns to the hill towns.

Built an 11-Point Benefit Program by and for the membership.

Fought and won reductions in utility rate hikes.

Together we can make a difference
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Join WMLA today!

Western Massachusetts Labor Action (WMLA) needs YOU to volunteer with our fight to end poverty in Berkshire County. Since 1974, low-income workers have united along with students, local business owners, professionals and others to build strong, independent organization that can change economic conditions, starting with those on the bottom. WMLA is 100% volunteer and non-government funded.

Learn more about WMLA
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Conditions in our area

Over 37,000 Berkshire County residents struggle to make ends meet, and more than 16,000 live below the government’s sub-survival poverty level. General Electric employed as many as 13,000 workers in the area before closing its transformer plant entirely in 1987; Sprague Electric, as many as 4000 until closing in 1985. None of those jobs remain. As unionized production jobs declined, service work became predominant. Typical jobs now are part-time, seasonal, and minimum wage.

Learn more

Here until

poverty isn’t!

Together we can make a difference

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Volunteer opportunities

WMLA is 100% volunteer! That means you can really make a difference. WMLA needs:

  • • House-to-house canvassers to sign new WMLA members
  • • Drivers
  • • Lay advocates
  • • Graphic designers
  • • Phone callers
  • • Letter writers
  • • Maintenance staff
  • • Event volunteers
Become a volunteer
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Learn our history

WMLA was founded in 1974.

As Berkshire County confronted widespread job losses and falling incomes, many residents saw that direct services or poverty programs, while alleviating some symptoms of poverty, were not addressing the root causes of the problems faced by working people.

Read about us
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2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

WMLA endorses the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals