On April 26, Massachusetts house Democrats voted overwhelmingly to limit the bargaining power of the state’s public unions. Unions are already working with the legislature on amendments and there are no guarantees it will pass the state’s senate or be signed by Governor Patrick. However the story raises interesting questions beyond the “dog bites man” angle of Democrats voting to curb union rights. First, the story has received little media coverage and has been virtually ignored by progressive bloggers and union PR machines when compared to the media firestorms that enveloped Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana. And with little if any provocation Governor Patrick almost immediately called on both sides to “dial down the rhetoric” even as no union voice has yet to accuse Boston Democrats of “union busting,” teacher hating, Tea Party pandering, slave trading or any other U.N. human rights violation. In contrast, Robert J. Haynes, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, pretty much called it like he saw it. “It’s pretty stunning,’’ Haynes said. “These are the same Democrats that all these labor unions elected. The same Democrats who we contributed to in their campaigns. The same Democrats who tell us over and over again that they’re with us, that they believe in collective bargaining, that they believe in unions… It’s a done deal for our relationship with the people inside that chamber.’’ So, there you have it – when Republicans limit the power of public unions they are despicable puppets of the Koch brothers and when Democrats do the same they are ungrateful union puppets run amok – a subtle but significant difference.
