Norwood Welfare Employees Protest Sweltering Office Conditions-July 17, 1975

On July 17, 1975, staff members of the Department of Public Welfare office located at 480 Washington St. in Norwood planned a one-hour demonstration to protest the lack of proper ventilation in their workplace. Union steward Ralph Desmond, representing members of the Massachusetts Social Workers Union, stated that the building’s air conditioning system had been non-functional since 1973, leaving employees to work in what he described as an “oven.” The windows of the facility were sealed shut, preventing any air circulation and contributing to odors that made the atmosphere nearly “intolerable.” The conditions had become so severe that employees reported being forced to leave work at 3 p.m. instead of 5 p.m., while frequently taking unscheduled breaks just to step outside for fresh air. Ralph Desmond noted the impact on operations, stating, “We’re getting behind in our work. You just can’t sit still for more than five minutes.”

Approximately 40 employees worked in the welfare office, which also served around 50 clients daily. Despite repeated complaints to building owner Arthur Stivaletta and the regional welfare department, staff felt their efforts had been largely ignored. The union had previously filed a grievance regarding the matter, and hearings were held in Norwood and Brockton, yet no resolution was reached. Ralph Desmond expressed frustration with the state department, claiming that their decision to take the matter to arbitration was a stalling tactic. To escalate their protest, employees planned to picket the Washington Street offices during the lunch hour throughout the week, with intentions to bring their grievances to the regional welfare office at 32 Belmont St. in Brockton and eventually the state offices at 600 Washington St. in Boston. One picket sign specifically targeted the building owner, reading, “Wake Up, Mr. Stivaletta.”

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger