"National scrutiny for Mass. labor law; Patrick OK’s collective bargaining changes" July 12, 2011|By Michael Levenson, Globe Staff
The White House took the unusual step this spring of calling Governor Deval Patrick to discuss his plan to curb the collective bargaining rights of public employees, an indication that the Obama administration may have been concerned about the potential for national political fallout.
And THEY SHOULD BE!
As we have SEEN over the PAST 5 YEARS -- despite all the political blather -- is that DEMOCRATS and REPUBLICANS are BOTH SUBSERVIENT to CORPORATE CASH!
The WARS ROLL ON and the SERVICES are CUT.
The call was made in late April, just after a tougher version of Patrick’s plan passed the House, sparking outrage from labor leaders who accused Massachusetts Democrats of launching a “Wisconsin-esque’’ attack on workers’ rights.
Related: New Rules For Unions in Massachusetts
Also see: Mass. House Worse Than Wisconsin
Say what?
At the time, President Obama, Patrick’s friend and political ally, had been trying to fire up the Democratic base by criticizing Republican governors for slashing collective bargaining rights.
And now you know that it is all a diversionary and divisive fraud.
Patrick disclosed yesterday that several national labor leaders called the White House to express concern about the Massachusetts plans. Nick Rathod, the White House’s deputy director of intergovernmental affairs, then called Patrick.
“There was no message,’’ the governor said yesterday, declining to discuss the call in detail as he signed the collective bargaining changes into law. “They were just checking in.’’
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In recent weeks, Patrick has silenced almost all of the union opposition without alienating more conservative taxpayer groups, an accomplishment that will no doubt relieve any concern the White House might have felt.
So Democrats somehow viewing the Massachusetts' unions as bending, spreading, and shutting up is a good thing?
“It’s a big win for the Democrats, because they want to avoid the kind of spectacle you’re seeing in Wisconsin,’’ said Peter Ubertaccio, a political scientist at Stonehill College. “It would be very difficult for the president and Democrats in Washington to use [Governor Scott] Walker as a foil, if Massachusetts, a Democratic state with a Democratic governor,’’ was also sparking union protests, he said.
It hasn't?
I'm so disappointed and embarrassed by my state.
Yesterday, Robert J. Haynes, president of the AFL-CIO of Massachusetts, who had angrily vowed to “fight this thing to the bitter end’’ in April, said labor unions support the governor’s final plan, thanks to some last-minute changes Patrick negotiated. He congratulated the governor for listening to labor’s concerns.
“Finally, in the endgame, we still get to sit down with municipalities and bang out and bargain what health care looks like in that city or town,’’ Haynes said. “That’s all we ever wanted, was to have a voice.’’
It won't be his much longer:
Also see: Unions Surrender Rights in Massachusetts
So what do you do when even the union lies to you?
Patrick’s plan still curbs the collective bargaining rights of teachers, firefighters, and other municipal employees....
Yes, which is WORSE than WALKER because he attempted to DIVIDE the UNIONS by EXEMPTING FIRE and POLICE!
But the last-minute changes Patrick negotiated will cushion seriously ill employees and retirees from significantly higher costs and limit the ability of local governments to make sweeping changes to employee health plans without union approval.
See: Secret Statehouse
Yeah, some changes!
Unlike the more divisive collective bargaining laws pushed in Republican-led states, unions in Massachusetts will get a “meaningful role’’ at the bargaining table and cities and towns will see “meaningful savings’’ in their insurance costs, Patrick said....
Patrick signed the collective bargaining changes as part of a $30.6 billion budget. The budget, which was 10 days late, includes no new taxes but imposes some tough cuts.
It slashes higher education spending by $70 million, funds home care services for the elderly and disabled for only half a year, and raises copayments for poor residents who receive state-subsidized health insurance. The yearly clothing allowance for poor children will also be slashed, from $150 to $40.
As if that was a whole pile of money for winter clothing!
And how many millions are going to Hollywood this year?
Patrick said he reluctantly approved a spending increase for the scandal-seared state Probation Department, even though lawmakers have not approved changes to reduce patronage and cronyism in the agency....
So despite the ROT of that AGENCY NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE?!!
--more--"
Also see: Democrats Abandon Unions in New Jersey
It's a nationwide phenomena.
