Labor & Employment (Collective Bargaining) in Massachusetts

passed · Massachusetts · House Jul 9, 2026

H 2092: An Act clarifying mandatory overtime protections

By Representative Doherty of Taunton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2092) of Carol A. Doherty and James K. Hawkins relative to mandatory overtime protections in collective bargaining agreements entered into by hospitals and labor organizations. Labor and Workforce Development.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards Workforce Development

passed · Massachusetts · House Jul 1, 2026

H 2896: An Act providing for fairness and equity for Massachusetts Water Resources Authority employees

By Representative Lewis of Framingham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2896) of Jack Patrick Lewis relative to collective bargaining of termination and discharge of employees of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. Public Service.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 22, 2025

S 1360: An Act relative to collective bargaining rights of the state police

By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1360) of Michael O. Moore for legislation relative to state police officers to collectively bargain their employment terms, including pay, hours, and disciplinary procedure. Labor and Workforce Development.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Workforce Development

passed · Massachusetts · House Apr 13, 2026

H 2820: An Act streamlining state employee collective bargaining

By Representative Elliott of Lowell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2820) of Rodney M. Elliott and others relative to state employee collective bargaining. Public Service.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Public Employees

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 863: An Act providing for natural gas workforce safety

This bill requires Massachusetts natural gas companies to establish performance-based rate systems with strict service quality standards focused on safety and workforce protections. It mandates that companies submit "just transition plans" detailing how they will maintain staffing levels, provide worker training, and mitigate job impacts during the shift to net-zero emissions, including specific benchmarks for in-house staffing and cross-training. The bill prohibits workforce reductions below January 1, 2022 levels without department approval or collective bargaining agreement, ensuring pipeline safety remains prioritized. These plans must address infrastructure upgrades, leak reduction, and pension solvency, with the Department of Public Utilities overseeing compliance and reporting on consumer claims.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Collective Bargaining

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3196: An Act relative to the confidentiality of communications of information of labor organizations

This bill protects confidential communications between labor organizations (like unions) and employees when handling workplace grievances. It prohibits forcing unions or their agents to disclose such communications, except in specific situations: to prevent serious harm or death (subsection c), or to stop crimes/fraud that could cause major financial damage (subsection d). The law also prevents courts from drawing negative conclusions if a union refuses to disclose protected information (subsection e). This directly affects unions, their agents, and employees involved in grievance processes.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 2059: An Act providing for natural gas workforce safety

SD 2059 requires Massachusetts natural gas companies to develop and submit "just transition plans" to the Department of Public Utilities. These plans must detail how the companies will maintain safe pipeline operations, retain sufficient staffing levels (at or above January 2022 levels unless through collective bargaining or approved reductions), provide workforce training for the shift to net-zero energy, and prevent employee displacement during the transition. The bill also mandates that gas companies establish service quality standards covering safety, infrastructure repairs, and employee training, while requiring them to file infrastructure replacement plans focused on reducing leaks and improving public safety. Additionally, it creates a 60-day timeline for resolving small customer claims under $100 and requires biannual reports on consumer claims to the legislature.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Collective Bargaining Workforce Development

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4051: An Act to protect the collective bargaining rights of certain administrative employees

HD 4051 amends the definition of "Employee" in Massachusetts law to protect collective bargaining rights for certain administrative staff. It directly affects Commonwealth employees in Management Classification Series below M-VI, preventing their automatic exclusion from bargaining coverage. The key provision states these employees cannot be excluded unless the Department of Labor Relations determines their duties meet managerial standards *or* an existing agreement with their bargaining unit covers similar work. This ensures these employees retain the right to collectively bargain unless specific, defined conditions are met.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4047: An Act relative to the protection of small businesses and workers

HD 4047, titled "An Act relative to the protection of small businesses and workers," establishes new antitrust rules targeting monopolies and monopsonies in Massachusetts. It defines "monopoly power" (controlling prices or excluding competition) and "monopsony" (a single buyer dominating a market), making contracts that create or maintain such power unlawful. The bill presumes dominance if a business holds 40%+ of a product market or 30%+ of a labor market, and prohibits abuses like wage suppression, anti-union restraints, or forcing exclusive deals. It directly affects large businesses or employers with dominant market positions, aiming to protect small competitors and workers' bargaining power.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 1065: An Act relative to collective bargaining rights of Massachusetts employees

This bill amends Massachusetts law to ensure that if a governmental agency determines public employees are no longer covered under applicable law (e.g., due to reclassification) or declines jurisdiction over their bargaining unit, the Department of Labor Relations must certify the union that was previously recognized as the exclusive bargaining representative. It directly affects Massachusetts state and local government employees whose employment status changes and their current union representatives. The key provision requires the Department of Labor Relations to maintain existing union certification in these specific circumstances, preventing loss of bargaining rights due to agency decisions about employee classification. The change applies only to bargaining units previously certified based on majority representation.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Professional Licensing

All labor & employment bills