In response to a state house hearing on labor rate reimbursed for collision repairs, several hundred Massachusetts auto body shop owners, family members, employees, voc-tech students and supporters are expected to converge on the State House on Wednesday. In addition to community demonstration of support, a motorcade of flatbed trucks topped with damaged cars will circle the area.
The "Collision Course" event is set for May 18 at 10:30 a.m. – rain or shine. The event is led by The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Massachusetts (AASP/MA).
Scheduled speakers include:
- James K. Hawkins, State Representative, D-2nd Bristol
- Evangelos "Lucky" Papageorg, Executive Director, AASP/MA
- Kevin Gallerani, President of AASP/MA and owner of Cape Auto Collision Center, Plymouth, MA
- Jack Lamborghini, co-owner of Total Care Accident Repair in Raynham, MA;
- Guy Glodis, Former State Senator, D-2nd Worcester who led Financial Services Committee as a legislator
- Dennise Caratazzola, concerned consumer from Bridgewater.
The group is protesting the "unsustainably low reimbursement rates" that were artificially set by insurance companies.
"The current labor rate for the auto body industry in unfair and unsustainable," State Senator Michael O. Moore, D-2nd Worcester noted in a statement. "I will continue to advocate for a legislative change that increases the labor rate to make the industry viable and consumers safe."
Brian Bernard, co-owner of Total Care Accident Repair in Raynham, an independent collision center owner, said the current $40-per-hour reimbursement rate is the lowest in the nation and falls far short of covering the body shop owners' labor, equipment, training and repair costs.
"As a result, unfortunately, many consumers have to pay the difference out of pocket," Bernard said. "The labor reimbursement rates paid by Massachusetts auto insurers have stayed the same for 11 years.
According to the article, the rates only moved $10 in nearly 34 years. Since 1988 the labor rate has increased $10 while the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased 137.7 percent, and insurance premiums have increased 254 percent. Additionally, advanced technology has resulted in cars becoming far more complex and expensive to repair. Additional training and equipment have forced Massachusetts auto body shop owners to invest far more to get paid less, Bernard said.
The final report, issued on April 13, of the Special Commission on Auto Body Labor Rates outlines the issues that require a vote by the state legislature to rectify. The full report can be found here.
