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.
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 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."
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.
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