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Unions press committee to extend just‑cause and promotion rights to MWRA employees
Summary
Labor groups and legislators urged the committee to amend the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority enabling statute to grant MWRA employees just‑cause protection and the ability to arbitrate promotion disputes, aligning them with other state employees.
Union representatives, MWRA employees and senators told the Joint Committee on Public Service that the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s enabling statute should be amended to provide MWRA workers the same disciplinary protections and promotion rights available to other state employees under Chapter 150E.
Jim Durkin, legislative director for AFSCME Council 93, described the absence of a just‑cause standard for MWRA workers as “the Wild West,” saying management can terminate workers without progressive discipline, consistent application of work rules, or arbitration. “When there is no just cause provision, it is essentially the Wild West,” Durkin said.
Testimony from NAGE and MOSES (Massachusetts Organization of State Engineers and Scientists) emphasized that MWRA employees operate critical water and wastewater systems — treating millions of gallons per day and safeguarding public health — and should have the same workplace protections afforded to other state employees. Patrick Russell, president of MOSES and a union representative at MWRA, said the arbitration restrictions in the original 1984 enabling legislation were understandable at the time but are outdated now and should be removed to allow arbitration of promotions and selection disputes.
Senator Patricia Collins (ranking member) and others backed companion bills (S.1800, S.1801) to amend MWRA law to prevent arbitrary terminations and permit employees to challenge promotion decisions through the established grievance and arbitration process.
The nut graf: proponents asked the committee to report the bills favorably to bring workplace equity to MWRA, citing both fairness and operational stability; no detailed fiscal analysis was provided during the hearing.
The committee heard that prior sessions have reported similar bills favorably and that unions want parity with state agencies covered by Chapter 150E, including access to progressive discipline, arbitration, and promotional competition.
Ending: Committee members thanked witnesses and said the committee would consider the testimony; no committee vote was recorded at the hearing.
