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SD 909

An Act to protect the collective bargaining rights of certain administrative employees

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Lydia Edwards

Expands Chapter 150E coverage to Management Classification Series employees below M-VI unless duties meet the managerial test or a relevant bargaining-unit agreement exists.

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Bill Summary · SD 909

Summary of Senate Bill SD 909 / Senate Docket No. 909

Title

An Act to protect the collective bargaining rights of certain administrative employees

Purpose and intent

  • The bill aims to expand and safeguard collective bargaining rights for certain Commonwealth administrative employees by altering how coverage under Chapter 150E (Massachusetts public sector collective bargaining) is determined.
  • Specifically, it seeks to prevent automatic exclusion of Management Classification Series employees from coverage, so long as they do not meet the statutory test for managerial status.

Key provisions

  • Amendment to the definition of “Employee” in section 1 of chapter 150E, as it appeared in the 2022 Official Edition.
  • New language inserted after the second sentence states:
    • “No person employed by the commonwealth in the Management Classification Series below the level of M-VI shall be excluded from the coverage of this chapter unless either the department of labor relations has determined that the actual duties of the particular position or positions meet the test of a managerial employee established in this definition or an agreement exists with the exclusive representative of the bargaining unit that covers similar types of work.”
  • In plain terms:
    • Employees in the Management Classification Series below M-VI cannot be automatically excluded from Chapter 150E coverage.
    • Exclusion would only occur if the Department of Labor Relations determines the duties meet the managerial test or there is a bargaining-unit agreement covering similar work.

Who would be affected

  • Commonwealth employees in the Management Classification Series below level M-VI.
  • The modification focuses on ensuring these workers are eligible for the protections and processes of collective bargaining under Chapter 150E, unless an exception applies as described.

Potential impact

  • Expanded scope of collective bargaining protections for administrative/management-support staff.
  • Increased potential for unionization, contract negotiations, and grievance procedures among affected employees.
  • Possible need for the Department of Labor Relations to assess job duties to determine managerial status, or for bargaining units to negotiate coverage.

Procedural status and timeline

  • Bill number: SD 909, Senate Docket No. 909.
  • Filed date (as per the bill text): January 15, 2025.
  • Introduced in the 2025-2026 General Court session; companion/previously filed matter exists in prior session (House No. 4916 of 2023-2024).
  • Status in this briefing: Proposed bill with text proposing an amendment to the statutory definition; no enacted status provided in the materials.

Notes and context

  • This bill builds on prior similar proposals aiming to extend Chapter 150E coverage to more management-series positions.
  • The core lever is changing who is considered an “Employee” under Chapter 150E, shifting the default from exclusion to potential coverage, subject to managerial determinations or existing bargaining agreements.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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