This bill would change the collective bargaining agreement process for the State Police by aligning the state police union with all other public employee unions in the Commonwealth. Currently, the collective bargaining process contains no binding arbitration clause that governs the MA State Police. This has created an imbalanced power dynamic with the Commonwealth holding a disproportionate level of leverage in the process.

Collective bargaining is the cornerstone of labor relations, providing a structured framework for employers and unions to negotiate wages, benefits, and working conditions. The provisions of the current system undermine the fairness and effectiveness of collective bargaining and leaves the State Police at a significant disadvantage because they have no way to enforce the provisions of a contract they bargained in good faith. This is a particularly critical issue for public police unions, where the lack of binding arbitration can undermine the stability of labor relations and jeopardize public safety.