Bill Summary for An Act Relative to Protecting Against the Displacement of Current Employees

Lead Sponsor: Senator Marc Pacheco

Bill Number: SB62

General Law Affected:  Chapter 7 amended by adding new section 57

Proposed Law:
Any private entity which leases publicly owned infrastructure or contracts to provide services under the terms and requirements of a privatization contract would:
 Be required to offer employment to the current workforce being displaced by the privatization. This law would not require privatized employer to maintain any specific staffing level.
 Provide all employees who continue to engage in work on or provide services to such a component of infrastructure or service the same benefits and rights which such employees enjoyed as public employees under applicable state, county or municipal legislation until successor contract is reached.
 Notify the employees’ collective bargaining representative.

Rationale:
The current economic crisis has unfortunately given rise to increased discussion of privatization of public infrastructure, agencies, and services. The Massachusetts AFL-CIO believes workers should not lose their job or their union because a service is privatized in the Commonwealth. In this environment, we must ensure that workers are front and center in any conversation about privatization. This bill will allow employees to maintain their employment if a service is privatized and maintain their union representation. Those who support privatization say their support is not anti-union or ant-incumbent worker. Should privatization of any state entity become a reality, this legislation will ensure that the current workforce is not negatively impacted by any privatization in the Commonwealth.