AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard L. Trumka and Governor Patrick shake hands after the Majority Authorization bill signing

240 delegates representing unions in Massachusetts witness historic labor law reform and victory for organized labor

MARLBOROUGH, MA, ISSUED SEPTEMBER 27, 2007 – On Thursday, September 27, 2007 Governor Deval Patrick signed the Majority Authorization bill, giving public employees the ability to form a collective bargaining unit by achieving majority support in writing. The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed the bill on Tuesday, September 18th, and the Massachusetts State Senate voted on Thursday, September 20th to enact the bill into law.Major victory for Massachusetts workers!

This historic moment arrives after a long fight. The Majority Authorization bill was first passed in Massachusetts by both the House and the Senate in 2005, but then-Governor Mitt Romney held off until the last minute to veto the bill. Introduced again in 2007, the bill has survived despite tremendous opposition from the business community and state Republican party. Before the public bill signing, Governor Patrick delivered a rousing speech about the need to protect the right of workers to organize, and then, with lead sponsors Chairman Robert DeLeo and Senator Robert O’Leary at his side, signed the historic labor bill into law. In addition to the lead sponsors and Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Robert Haynes, the Governor was joined by legislators and AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka. The state legislators in attendance included Representative Steven LeDuc, Representative Jay Kaufman, Representative James Eldridge, Senator Pam Resor, and union card-carrying Senator Steven Tolman. The Governor was also accompanied by Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Suzanne Bump and Director of Labor George Noel. The video of this morning’s important signing is available on this page. 

Governor Patrick signs Majority AuthorizationIn the Governor’s press release this morning, he had this to say, “This bill is about leveling the playing field between labor and management. It affirms the Commonwealth’s policy of supporting workers who should be able to bargain collectively for fair wages, decent health care and on the job protections.”

"We are proud that our elected officials respect and defend the right of workers to organize," said President Haynes. "I want to acknowledge the continued support of the state legislature in this fight for workers' rights. I thank the bill's lead sponsors, Chairman Robert DeLeo and Senator Robert O'Leary, and I am profoundly grateful for the leadership shown on this issue by Speaker DiMasi and Senate President Murray."

Continued President Haynes, "More than a year after Mitt Romney's veto, we have a new Governor, one who has shown his commitment to improving the quality of life of working people, and together we have won a major victory for workers in Massachusetts."

Majority Authorization is signed!  This legislation is part of a nation-wide movement for states to act where they have jurisdiction and authority to ensure that workers' rights are protected. Massachusetts joins the ranks of six other states, including New Hampshire, that have also passed Majority Authorization. The Massachusetts AFL-CIO is proud to have a Governor and a state legislature that trusts workers to make their own decisions, without intimidation, harassment, or dissuasion campaigns by bosses.