Democratic Candidates Work for Right to Organize

In the latest display of unwavering support for Workers’ Rights in Massachusetts, three Democratic candidates for Governor and Mass. AFL-CIO-endorsed Lt. Governor candidate Tim Murray each wrote letters to Senate President Robert Travaglini urging the State Senate to pass legislation that would make it easier for workers to form unions, and further safeguard the rights of existing union workers. Attorney General Thomas Reilly, Deval Patrick, Chris Gabrieli, and Murray each publicly signed a pledge in May stating, “I fully support the principle, guaranteed under federal law, that employees are entitled to a free choice to form a union with out interference, intimidation or fear of reprisals.” The Massachusetts AFL-CIO asked the candidates to back up that pledge with action by sending Senate President Robert Travaglini a letter in support of HB 429 “An Act Providing Amendments to the Labor Laws”.

All three gubernatorial candidates enthusiastically applauded and emphasized the importance of amending the labor laws. “Massachusetts has a long, proud history of protecting workers’ rights. We were the first state in the nation to enact child labor laws and one of the first to grant public employees collective bargaining rights…I urge you to enact House Bill 429,” said Reilly in his letter to the Senate President.

Deval Patrick took a collaborative approach with the legislature when declaring his support for the bill, which he felt was beneficial to both public employees and the agencies which employ them. Patrick wrote, “Knowing of your support for working families and for organized labor, I am sure that there will be many opportunities for us in the future to collaborate on this and other initiatives. I look forward to those occasions.”

In a strong statement of support for the pending legislation, Gabrieli states that “Passage of HB 429 illustrates that as one of the largest employers in the Commonwealth, public sector agencies and local governments respect the men and women working for them. In addition, passage would allow public sector entities to quickly recognize that a majority of their employees seek union representation and allow for a cost effective method to grant that right. At no time, should taxpayer dollars be used to delay or oppose public employees' right to organize.”

“This legislation is necessary because despite the fact that a worker’s right to join a union is guaranteed by law, it is widely recognized that employees often fall victim to intimidation by employers during the extensive period of time leading up to the election…Individuals should be able to enjoy the freedom to join a union confidentially, without fear or repercussions,” Mass. AFL-CIO-endorsed candidate for Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray stated in his letter of support.

Passed in the House already, and sponsored by Representative DeLeo and Senator O’Leary, House Bill 429 seeks Majority Authorization for public employees who seek to join unions. The law will insert a paragraph into Chapter 150E/150A of the Massachusetts General Laws allowing for recognition of a labor organization upon written authorization from the employees. Authorization would be constituted by a majority of employees signing and dating cards, petitions, or other written evidence designating an employee organization as their representative for collective bargaining where one does not previously exist. This law would apply to public employees but would be a symbolic victory for all workers.

This most impressive display of support for the working families of Massachusetts was heard loudly and clearly on Beacon Hill this week, and the Massachusetts AFL-CIO would like to thank the four candidates for standing by their pledge. These candidates continue to demonstrate that they will stand with working families throughout this campaign and in the Corner Office.