Massachusetts businesses to join economic boycott amid nationwide firings
Updated: 11:16 PM EST Feb 27, 2025
JENNIFER PINOT FOUND OUT. JUST SET AN ALL BOLD DETERMINATION. METEOROLOGIST FRANCIS TARASIEWICZ IS ONE OF THE MANY NOAA AND NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EMPLOYEES FIRED VIA EMAIL TODAY BY THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT. IT CITED POOR PERFORMANCE, WHICH ACTUALLY EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON. MY BOSS DID MY ONE MONTH CHECK IN AND HE WAS ACTUALLY CITING REALLY GOOD PERFORMANCE. OPM HAS BEEN TARGETING PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEES ON THE JOB FOR LESS THAN A YEAR. TARASIEWICZ HAD JUST CROSSED THE ONE MONTH MARK AT NWS BOSTON. HE SAYS THE OFFICE IS ALREADY SHORT STAFFED, AND THE CUTS THREATEN NEW ENGLAND’S PUBLIC SAFETY. FIRST RESPONDERS, FIREFIGHTERS. I MEAN, WE JUST HAD A MEETING WITH THEM YESTERDAY DETERMINING HOW WE COULD BETTER FORECAST FOR THE FIRE WEATHER. HE’S HOPING TO PUT UP A FIGHT, AND HE’S NOT ALONE IN PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S RECENT MOVES. GRASSROOTS GROUP THE PEOPLE’S UNION, ASKING PEOPLE TO NOT SPEND MONEY FOR 24 HOURS FRIDAY, AN EFFORT TO, QUOTE, SHOW THEM WHO REALLY HOLDS THE POWER. THIS COMES AS INFLATION REMAINS HIGH AND SEVERAL RETAILERS HAVE ELIMINATED DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAMS. THE CALL ISN’T TO BOYCOTT A SINGLE BRAND OR A SINGLE RETAIL OUTLET, BUT IT’S RATHER CALLING FOR CONSUMERS TO SHUT DOWN THEIR SPENDING ALTOGETHER. SOME LOCAL SHOPS FROM CAMBRIDGE TO MEDFORD ARE JOINING THE ECONOMIC BLACKOUT. TARASIEWICZ SAYS HE UNDERSTANDS GOVERNMENT CUTS BUT BELIEVES THE LAYOFFS ARE UNFAIR, TARGETING, YOU KNOW, FOLKS THAT ARE LEGITIMATELY LIKE THEIR MISSION STATEMENT IS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY IS JUST KIND OF A BAD FIRST PLACE TO START. AND RIGHT HERE IN CAMBRIDGE, THE CRAFT STUDIO GATHER HERE WILL BE CLOSED TOMORROW IN SUPPORT OF THAT BOYCOTT. ECONOMISTS SAY IT IS UNCLEAR WHAT THE IMPACT WILL BE WHEN IT COMES TO THIS ONE DAY ECONOMIC BLACKOUT
Massachusetts businesses to join economic boycott amid nationwide firings
Updated: 11:16 PM EST Feb 27, 2025
Probationary workers who were fired by the federal government, including many in Massachusetts, could possibly be on their way to getting their jobs back.This comes after a ruling from a federal judge on Thursday said the U.S. Office of Personnel Management “does not have any authority whatsoever, under any statute in the history of the universe, to hire or fire any employees but its own.”Meteorologist Francis Tarasiewicz is one of the many National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service employees fired via email on Thursday by the Office of Personnel Management, which has been targeting “probationary employees” on the job for less than a year.Tarasiewicz had just crossed the one-month mark at NWS Boston.” cited ‘poor performance’, which actually earlier this afternoon, my boss did my one-month check-in, and he was actually citing really good performance,” Tarasiewicz said.He said the office is already short-staffed, and the cuts threaten New England’s public safety.Now, he’s hoping to put up a fight — and he’s not alone — in pushing back against the Trump Administration’s recent moves.Grassroots group “The People’s Union” is asking people not to spend money for 24 hours Friday in an effort to “show them who really holds the power.”This comes as inflation remains high and several retailers have eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion programs.”The call isn’t to boycott a single brand or a single retail outlet, but it’s rather calling for consumers to shut down their spending altogether,” Northwestern University Marketing professor Anna Tuchman said.Some local shops from Cambridge to Medford are joining the economic blackout.Tarasiewicz said he understands government cuts, but believes the layoffs are unfair. “Targeting folks mission statement is protecting life and property is kind of a bad first place to start,” Tarasiewicz said.
NORTON, Mass. —Probationary workers who were fired by the federal government, including many in Massachusetts, could possibly be on their way to getting their jobs back.
This comes after a ruling from a federal judge on Thursday said the U.S. Office of Personnel Management “does not have any authority whatsoever, under any statute in the history of the universe, to hire or fire any employees but its own.”
Meteorologist Francis Tarasiewicz is one of the many National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service employees fired via email on Thursday by the Office of Personnel Management, which has been targeting “probationary employees” on the job for less than a year.
Tarasiewicz had just crossed the one-month mark at NWS Boston.
“[The email] cited ‘poor performance’, which actually earlier this afternoon, my boss did my one-month check-in, and he was actually citing really good performance,” Tarasiewicz said.
He said the office is already short-staffed, and the cuts threaten New England’s public safety.
Now, he’s hoping to put up a fight — and he’s not alone — in pushing back against the Trump Administration’s recent moves.
Grassroots group “The People’s Union” is asking people not to spend money for 24 hours Friday in an effort to “show them who really holds the power.”
This comes as inflation remains high and several retailers have eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
“The call isn’t to boycott a single brand or a single retail outlet, but it’s rather calling for consumers to shut down their spending altogether,” Northwestern University Marketing professor Anna Tuchman said.
Some local shops from Cambridge to Medford are joining the economic blackout.
Tarasiewicz said he understands government cuts, but believes the layoffs are unfair.
“Targeting folks [whose] mission statement is protecting life and property is kind of a bad first place to start,” Tarasiewicz said.
