Jeff Cohen

Jeff Cohen, introduced in the meeting as a former Salem city councilor, spoke in support of a wage theft ordinance. He told the council, “I served as a city councilor for two terms,” and said, “I wrote the wage theft ordinance that we passed in .95.” He described the measure as addressing wage theft, fair wages, child labor violations, human trafficking, sexual and physical assault on the job, and nonpayment of workers.

Cohen argued that the ordinance is intended to deter employers who violate labor laws and to create consequences beyond the city level. He said the ordinance can lead to referrals to the Attorney General, the Department of Labor, or the district attorney’s office when criminal conduct is involved. He also defended the council’s authority to pass ordinances and set policy, saying, “This is something that you can do.” He added, “This is important.”

Cohen urged the council to protect workers while also supporting businesses that follow the rules. He rejected the idea that labor compliance could be achieved simply by asking employers nicely, and he pushed back on the view that the issue should be handled only through contract language. He said the council should take action and that the ordinance was a practical tool for the city to use.

In closing, Cohen encouraged the council to adopt the measure unanimously. He said, “Hopefully, you’ll do it unanimously like we did and Revere did, and you will tell the companies that screw their workers that they’re not welcome in Salem, I mean, in Everett.” He immediately corrected himself, adding, “Sorry. In Everett.” He also stated, “That’s a good thing,” reinforcing his support for the ordinance and the broader policy goal of deterring worker mistreatment.

No votes by Cohen were recorded in the extracted meeting activity.