Mass. Legislature Takes On Union Rights

Labor leaders in Massachusetts are seething over a bill that would take some aspects of their health insurance plans off the bargaining table — and let cities and towns make those decisions unilaterally. Lawmakers say the change will save municipalities up to a hundred million dollars and avoid layoffs and service cuts. But labor leaders call it an attack on the middle class and the latest in a series of assaults on workers rights. Wisconsin and Ohio are among several other states that have recently moved to cut collective bargaining rights of public employees.