Pass The Labor Rate Bill

Using Our Sample Letters

    At the heart of our efforts to get the Labor Rate Bill passed into law, is the message we need to deliver to every state legislator. We develop this message and post it, in the form of a letter, for you to mail, fax, or email to those who represent your interests at the State House.

    The letter(s) we post on the site are just a guide to help you. But, the basic message should be used "as is" in the letters you send. We encourage you to add your own personal greetings and words, especially if you know the particular legislator to whom you are writing. Another thing we encourage you to do is to follow up your letters with a phone call. You can refer to the letter you sent in your phone conversation and use the sample telephone script we provide as a guide for the call.

    The sample letters we post on the website are provided to help you communicate a clear message to your legislators. Most of the time, we will have just one letter posted for you to use, but the letter will change as the Labor Rate Bill moves through the Senate and House of Representatives. At many points in the journey to getting the bill passed into law, the message will changed - one time being pointed specifically towards one person or a small group, other times towards a large group of legislative leaders. We will post details of when letters need to be sent and who to send them to, most likely on the home page. If you have any questions about which letter to send and to whom, please call the office at (617) 484-0205 for your answers.

CURRENT LETTER

Letter to State Senators asking that they contact Senate President Therese Murray's to ask her to move the bill to the Senate floor for a vote.

Print: SAMPLE LETTER FOR COLLISION SHOP CUSTOMERS

[DATE]

Dear Representative/Senator [NAME OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE OR SENATOR],

    As a customer of [YOUR COMPANY NAME], I am writing to ask for your support of H1043 / S122, the Auto Body Labor Rate Bill. The quality of service provided by [YOUR COMPANY NAME] is excellent and very much to my satisfaction. The people who repair my vehicle at this shop are highly skilled technicians and the business is operated in a professional manner.

    I was told by this shop's management that Massachusetts auto body shops are paid by insurance companies at the lowest labor rate in the United States. Quite frankly, I was astounded by the amount when I saw it on my final bill. I expected to be billed similarly to the $75.00 to $95.00 per hour that I am charged at my auto mechanic's shop, and certainly not the $35.00 or so that was on my bill.

    I didn't know that this rate was "regulated" by insurance companies, and not the state government, or that it could be so low. This shop's management told me that all of their efforts to negotiate a fairer labor rate with my insurance company have failed to result in any change for nearly twenty years. If collision shops are not "allowed" to keep pace with the rest of the economy, then I am worried that I will not have enough choices for quality repairs in the future.

    That is why I am asking that you support H1043 / S122, the Auto Body Labor Rate Bill. That legislation would bring "fundamental fairness" back to the collision industry. These companies employ local people and purchase products from local suppliers. They sponsor athletic teams for our kids and do a lot of great work in our communities. To sit by and watch them struggle to remain in business would be irresponsible. I feel that it is time for legislators like you to take a vocal and forceful stand in support of the Auto Body Labor Rate Bill. I look forward to hearing from you in response to this letter.

Sincerely,

[CUSTOMER SIGNATURE]
[PRINTED CUSTOMER NAME]
[CUSTOMER'S STREET ADDRESS]
[CUSTOMER'S TOWN]
[CUSTOMER'S PHONE NUMBER]