Out of Left Field: Massachusetts House Votes to End Collective Bargaining for Public Workers
In a surprise move yesterday, House lawmakers in Massachusetts voted overwhelmingly to strip public workers of their collective bargaining rights over healthcare decisions. The move would strip police officers, teachers, and other municipal workers of their bargaining rights over changes made to healthcare benefits, including premiums, co-payments and other benefits.
The really surprising thing is that Massachusetts is a deep-blue state, and the House is controlled by Democrats. Far from the Tea Party governments of Wisconsin and elsewhere, Massachusetts has one of the most progressive healthcare systems in the country, thanks to former governor Mitt Romney.
Even so, the House voted 11-to-42 to strip healthcare bargaining from public workers. The move was