Local Play Exposes Dangers for Day Laborers
“I became a day laborer worker because I couldn’t find another job,” Luciano Gomez told the standing-room only audience of 125 on May 21 moments before the premiere of the play “They Don’t Tell You Anything.” Gomez, a MassCOSH Worker Center member, opened the event by sharing his own experience as a house painter.
“I go to street corner every morning at around 5:30 am. I work painting old houses and buildings [without] any protection equipment, no protective clothing, no safety goggles, nothing. Early this year I started getting headaches and stomach aches; I just took aspirin to make it go away. But it got worse and I began feel tired all the time.”
The new play, co-produced by MassCOSH and community partners SCALE and the Welcome Project and held at the Black Box Theater in Somerville, was part of an evening of theater, stories and conversation about the struggles and challenges that many Somerville residents face after they are picked up by contractors each morning to paint or perform demolition work. Written by playwright and English teacher Meryl Becker, the play was performed by student actors from the Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experiences (SCALE).
Becker wrote the play in consultation with day laborers, MassCOSH worker center organizers and union organizers. SCALE student actors modified and finalized the play based on their own work experiences. At the same time, ESOL students at SCALE and The Welcome Project participated in interactive workshops on workplace health and safety led by MassCOSH. Youth in the Welcome Project’s liaison interpreter program (LIPS) were also trained by MassCOSH and the Community Action Agency of Somerville as they prepared to assist with language interpretation at the event.
The event comes on the heels of new federal regulations that strengthen safety requirements for contractors that are remodeling or painting old homes. As of April 20, US Environmental Protection Agency requires that all contractors become certified, train their workers and implement safety measures to reduce risk of lead exposure for workers and building occupants. The play is one part of an educational effort that MassCOSH and its community partners have initiated to raise awareness about lead hazards.
At the end of the play the audience and the actors, immigrant workers, and safety experts discussed the play in a talk-back session moderated by the Chair of Tufts Drama and Dance Department, Barbara Grossman.
“No matter where you are from, you need to know that if you work with chemicals you can get hurt and your family can get hurt,” said Felipe Montarroyos, a Brazilian immigrant who plays a painter in the play and has worked in construction in real life. “If everyone tried to protect themselves and others, it would be a better world.”
SCALE, The Welcome Project and the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Health and Safety (MassCOSH) produced the event with co-sponsors Community Action Agency of Somerville, The Brazilian Women’s Group and several other organizations. Major funding for this project comes from the Mass Humanities Foundation and the Somerville Arts Council/Massachusetts Cultural Council. The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office provided funding for MassCOSH lead and construction training. Other contributors include Feinmann, Inc. Build/Design, Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS), and Tufts University.
