Labor & Employment (Public Employees)

By Mr. Keenan, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1343) of John F. Keenan, Michael O. Moore, David F. DeCoste, Rebecca L. Rausch and other members of the General Court for legislation to provide collective bargaining rights for legislative employees. Labor and Workforce Development.

This bill clarifies that constitutional officers (such as the Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State) are the direct employers for collective bargaining purposes for employees under their jurisdiction. It directly affects state employees working for these elected officials' offices by designating the officers themselves - not other state entities - as the bargaining employers. The key provision resolves ambiguity about employer status, requiring unions to negotiate directly with the constitutional officer's office rather than a broader state agency. This change streamlines collective bargaining processes for these specific state employees.