Mass. lawmaker files bill to change collective-bargaining language for MWRA employees

Representative Jack Patrick Lewis of Framingham filed House Bill 2895 on Jan. 15, 2025, proposing to amend Section 7(c)(i) of Chapter 372 of the Acts of 1984 to remove language that limits collective bargaining over "employment, assignment and promotion of employees and the determination of standards therefore" for employees of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. The filing, titled "An Act relative to the employee rights of employees of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority," states the specified clause would be struck and subsections (ii) through (v) renumbered, according to the bill text. The filing lists "Public Service," indicating referral to the House Committee on Public Service. The bill text does not specify implementation details, including how any change would be administered, how many employees would be affected, or any budgetary consequences. The document notes similar matter was filed in the previous legislative session as House No. 2457 of 2023–2024. The filing is a legislative proposal; the provided document contains no recorded debate, committee action, votes, or public testimony. If the House Committee on Public Service considers the bill and reports it favorably, it would then proceed through the standard legislative process in the House and Senate.