Massachusetts’ plan targets labor wrangles (backlog of 600 cases and alleged anti-labor bias)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1031626

By Jay Fitzgerald

Massachusetts’ “broken system” for settling labor disputes between public-sector employees and governments would be revamped under a plan unveiled yesterday by Gov. Deval Patrick.

If approved by lawmakers, it would be a major victory for labor groups, who have harshly criticized the current system for its backlog of 600 cases and alleged anti-labor bias.

The current setup has three different boards handling labor contract mediation issues, union grievances, unfair labor practice complaints and other matters.

Patrick’s plan would reduce the three agencies to two - and both would be administratively run by a governor-appointed commissioner.

“There hasn’t been effective management,” said Patrick’s secretary of labor and workforce development, Suzanne Bump, who helped broker a deal among labor groups and municipalities in an attempt to reform the current system.

FULL story at link.