Quote:
Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
Ahem, you might want to check your sources again. Even in MASS, where I was really just guessing.
http://www.mass.gov/lrc/gb-evolution.html
Maybe you are using the term "union" in a way that Massachusetts specifically does not. The entire history is apparently shown in the link, and you'll note the part around 1958 where the term "except Police" appears. As with, ahem, most other states, that "except" part is still the law. There is a reason the F.O.P. will not call itself a "union" in most places.
Then again, we'd just be arguing about terminology. We both seem to agree that they couldn't strike if they wanted to etc.
And are you saying that "public employees" thing broadly? Is it not limited to emergency service-types and a few others, or does MASS really ban teachers, garbagemen, lifeguards and others from striking too?
Hello
|
Did you read what you linked to? Maybe just the beginning of the time line? If you scroll down, you stumble upon this gem:
1987
Interest arbitration is reinstituted for police and firefighter contract negotiations, with arbitration awards subject to funding by the legislative body.
Last time I checked, police meant, um, police. And contract negotiations usually implies that employees have a collective bargaining agent. That usually implies a union. But hey, I'm just guessing.
As for strikes by public employees in Mass, I again point you to the MAss statute which states, in part:
G.L. c.150E, §9A Strikes prohibited; investigation; enforcement proceedings
(a) No public employee or employee organization shall engage in a strike, and no public employee or employee organization shall induce, encourage or condone any strike, work stoppage, slowdown or withholding of services by such public employees.
aV
