Protecting Employees

Bill Lead Sponsor: Senator Marc Pacheco, First Plymouth and Bristol

Bill Number: SB120

Bill Co-Sponsors:

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

Current Law:
None

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 Massachusetts AFL-CIO believes workers should not lose their job or their union because a service is privatized in the Commonwealth. 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. This legislation will ensure that the current workforce is not negatively impacted by any privatization in the Commonwealth.