Massachusetts Union Dues Bill Held Up by Privacy Concerns

A bill that would allow Massachusetts public sector unions to deduct dues from nonmembers has snagged over unrelated concerns about workers’ privacy rights.

There’s not much doubt that despite Republican Gov. Charlie Baker‘s Aug. 2 veto of the bill (H.3854), the Democratically controlled state Legislature can and will override his veto. The Senate (by a tally of 34-5) and House (128-29) overwhelmingly rejected Baker’s first attempt to address his concerns, when he sent the bill back to the Legislature with suggestions to bar unions from receiving access to workers’ personal mobile phone numbers.

The Legislature is expected ...