Middleboro Review 2: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: State of the State House union effort

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: State of the State House union effort

SURVEY SAYS — State House staffers have seen their benefits expanded in recent months, but that isn’t slowing the push for collective bargaining rights from aides who say the changes — while welcome — don’t go far enough.

Staffers continue to worry about their pay, benefits and opportunities for career advancement and training, according to a survey of more than 200 House and Senate employees conducted by organizers with the State House Employee Union from Dec. 5 to March 1 and shared first with Playbook.

Aides cited salary and compensation as a chief concern and called for a pay equity analysis to make salaries more competitive. They also recommended conducting confidential focus groups to collect staff feedback on training and HR policies.

One important caveat: the survey was largely conducted prior to Senate leaders unveiling new salary ranges and benefits for staff in February and before the House announced raises for all staff late last month.

Organizers with the State House Employee Union hailed the pay bump from the House as “an important step” in an email to staffers at the time. But they said legislative leaders still have not done enough to address other issues — including around harassment, discrimination and job training.

State law currently leaves legislative staff off the list of public employees who can collectively bargain. A pair of bills languishing in the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight would help change that, but they face an uphill battle: A similar effort was shot down late last session by Senate President Karen Spilka, who said then her chamber “does not at this time see a path forward for a traditional employer-union relationship.”

The bills wouldn’t immediately turn Beacon Hill aides into union workers. On the House side, staffers have yet to secure majority support from their peers to pursue union recognition from chamber leadership. But their passage could kick-start the process.

“I have left jobs in the past for either a better opportunity, or because I hated my job. This will be the first job that I have loved that I will have to leave because of cost-of-living pressures,” one staffer wrote in response to the anonymous survey.

GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS . See you tonight at Carrie Nation! Email us to be added to the waitlist — I hear there may be some swag.

TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey attends a political fundraiser in Harwich and keynotes the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting at 6:15 p.m. in Harwich Port. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll speaks at a groundbreaking at 2:30 p.m. in Mattapan. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is on “Java with Jimmy” at 9:30 a.m., attends the Charlestown Age Strong luncheon at 11:30 a.m. and joins the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement’s annual reception at 6:30 p.m.

Tips? Scoops? Birthdays? Drop me a line: kgarrity@politico.com.

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DATELINE BEACON HILL

— “For years, mothers were reported to DCF simply for taking addiction medication. Massachusetts lawmakers are seeking to end that,” by Matt Stout, The Boston Globe: “Massachusetts House leaders are pushing a proposal that would free doctors, hospital officials, and others from requirements to report suspected neglect to child welfare officials solely because a baby is born exposed to drugs, offering a dramatic shift in the state’s approach to child welfare reporting. The measure is expected to pass the House on Thursday as part of a wide-ranging bill intended to address the state’s still-raging opioid epidemic.”

— “Beacon Hill Democrats strike deal on ‘revenge porn’ bill with formal sessions nearing end,” by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: “Beacon Hill Democrats struck a deal on a policy that would outlaw the circulation of explicit photos of someone without their permission, a move that, if approved, would bring Massachusetts in line with almost every other state. Legislators delivered a compromise bill they argued ensures teenagers are aware of the ‘dire consequences’ of sharing explicit images and providers survivors of so-called revenge porn, deep fakes, and malicious blackmail specific legal protections and recourse for crimes committed against them.”

— “More Work May Be Required To Balance State Budget,” by Sam Drysdale, State House News Service (paywall): “With one big month left in a rollercoaster year for state tax revenues, Gov. Maura Healey's top budget official warned local officials Tuesday that additional steps may still be needed to balance the fiscal year 2024 budget. … ‘After adjusting for capital gains and surtax, we could still have some work in order to balance FY24. And that's what we're really focused on at this point,’ Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew Gorzkowicz told the Local Government Advisory Commission on Tuesday.”

FROM THE HUB

— “‘We do not have the luxury to wait.’ With delayed school closure plan, Mayor Wu draws criticism, sympathy on tough issue,” by Niki Griswold and Emma Platoff, The Boston Globe: “Wu charged into office two and a half years ago promising to make the hard calls. A parent of Boston Public Schools students, she pledged to prioritize education and ensure high-quality instruction for all students — a promise that experts say requires the politically painful step of shuttering beloved but redundant schools so education dollars can be more effectively spent. Now, ahead of an expected bid for a second term in 2025, Wu is pushing a scaled-back plan for the district that, at least in the short term, would only consolidate two schools that already share a campus, and close the district’s last stand-alone middle school. It’s a plan that education experts and advocates fear kicks the can down the road; on the other hand, it may at least temporarily spare the mayor the ire of public school parents furious that their child’s local school has been shut.”

— “Mayor Wu says congestion pricing is still an option in Boston,” by Hannah Loss, GBH News: “Congestion pricing has been heralded as a major climate step to reduce air pollution and dependence on cars. Boston City Council has debated the merits of tolling cars during peak traffic hours in order to reduce traffic. New York would have served as a “proof of concept” for cities like Boston, Wu said. Despite the shelving of New York’s plan, [Boston Mayor Michelle] Wu said she still thinks congestion pricing could happen here. ‘I think all tools should be on the table, including congestion pricing,’ she said.”

— “Boston will receive nearly $10M for job training in coastal resilience,” by Barbara Moran, WBUR: “Boston will receive nearly $10 million in federal funds to train workers for jobs aimed at helping coastal areas better withstand the effects of climate change. City officials said they expect to train about 1,200 workers in construction, emergency preparedness, water utility management, community outreach and other fields related to what's often called coastal resilience.”

YAHD SIGNS AND BUMPAH STICKAHS

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — State Rep. Russell Holmes is endorsing attorney Allison Cartwright for Suffolk County Supreme Judicial Court clerk, the latest in a long list of Boston-based Beacon Hill backers.

WU WATCH — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is still stopping short of officially announcing a reelection bid. “Is this going to be a monthly feature now?” she quipped, when asked about her plans for 2025 during an interview on GBH News’ “Boston Public Radio” Tuesday. "I love my job. We have a lot of important things that we're working on. When the time is right, I'm sure there will be time for announcements and campaigning," she said.

— “The most interesting part of your 2024 ballot could deal with this obscure panel,” by Gintautas Dumcius, CommonWealth Beacon: “Few voters can probably name the governor’s councilor who represents their district. But with Massachusetts’s pick for the White House a foregone conclusion, and most State House lawmakers expected to coast to reelection, the race for the obscure post may be the most interesting thing on the ballot for voters in the Governor’s Council district that includes part of Boston’s Back Bay reaches out to suburbs north and west, including Billerica, Marlborough, Wellesley, and Woburn. There, the Democratic primary in September features a rematch two years in the making: Marilyn Petitto Devaney, the incumbent who first won the seat in 1998, is facing off against Mara Dolan, a lawyer and former political aide who lost the 2022 primary to her by just 1,658 votes. ‘I only need 50 more votes per town to win,’ Dolan said this week.”

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

— “MBTA is ‘barely treading water’,” by Gintautas Dumcius, CommonWealth Beacon: “The MBTA’s board of directors has signed off on a $3 billion budget, as well as a capital investment plan, keeping the public transit agency’s flickering lights on in the coming fiscal year starting July 1. The fiscal 2025 budget, which is 11 percent higher than the previous fiscal year, was infused with spending from reserves to close a funding gap and help pay for a hiring spree. But it’s the next fiscal year, 2026 – along with the projects the agency hasn’t been able to invest in – that drew concern from board members as they met Tuesday.”

JOIN US ON 6/13 FOR A TALK ON THE FUTURE OF HEALTH CARE : As Congress and the White House work to strengthen health care affordability and access, innovative technologies and treatments are increasingly important for patient health and lower costs. What barriers are appearing as new tech emerges? Is the Medicare payment process keeping up with new technologies and procedures? Join us on June 13 as POLITICO convenes a panel of lawmakers, officials and experts to discuss what policy solutions could expand access to innovative therapies and tech. REGISTER HERE .

WARREN REPORT

THANK YOU SENATOR WARREN!

FORMER SUPPORTERS HAVE CONDEMNED STEWARD CEO RALPH de la TORRE's YACHTS & LAVISH SPENDING!

— “Warren seeks consequences for 'corporate crimes' in health care,” by Katie Lannan, GBH News: “U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Tuesday she wants to bring new accountability to ‘corporate executives that loot our health care system.’ Warren announced new legislation across the street from St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton. St. Elizabeth’s is one of eight Steward Health Care hospitals in Massachusetts that face uncertain futures after Steward filed for bankruptcy last month.”

RELATED — “Steward secures financing to keep hospitals open during bankruptcy,” by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey, WBUR.

FROM THE 413

— “Springfield School Committee approves contract for interim superintendent,” by Jeanette DeForge, The Springfield Republican: “The School Committee approved the pact that will allow Michelle Balch to serve as interim superintendent until a contract with Sonia Dinnall, who was chosen to be the city’s next school leader can be finalized. The committee voted 7-0 Tuesday to approve the contract for Balch, the chief instructional officer for the schools, who was selected on Friday to serve as interim superintendent after retiring Daniel Warwick abruptly announced his last day would be Friday.”

— “Easthampton’s $57.2M budget sails through council,” by Alexa Lewis, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Despite the expiration of pandemic-era funding that has left other municipalities grappling to bridge large gaps, Easthampton is dipping into stabilization funds that have built up over the past several years to balance its budget that calls for no layoffs or pay cuts. In her budget letter, Mayor Nicole LaChapelle said that stabilization funds had reached ‘historical levels.’”

HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH

TRANSITIONS — Former first lady of Massachusetts Diane Patrick has joined the board of trustees at the Dorchester-based nonprofit Epiphany School.

Daniel Mahoney has been appointed as the new Deputy Chief Counsel of the Children and Family Law Division at the Committee for Public Counsel Services.

Katherine Adam is now senior vice president and managing director of Denterlein's public affairs practice.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Tri Tran of Rosie’s Place, Campbell Curry-Ledbetter, Brianna Millor, Allison DeAngelis and Peter Francis.

Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com .

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