June 11, 2008
Nashua Telegraph
Gov. John Lynch signed legislation that lets groups as small as three form a public employee union but only if the local government agrees to it.
Currently, groups no smaller than 10 can unionize.
Rep. John Knowles, D-Hudson, wrote the measure (HB 1127) to make it not binding on any city or town.
Union leaders argue that smaller locals can more effectively bargain over their working conditions that may differ from other public employee departments.
A bill that gave local government no say in forming a union smaller than 10 cleared the state Senate last year. It died before the House of Representatives after intense lobbying from local officials.
The new law takes effect in early August.