Patrick, legislative leaders reach municipal health care deal

By Noah Bierman, Globe Staff

Governor Patrick today resolved a contentious labor issue with Beacon Hill legislative leaders that had been holding up the state budget. He now plans to sign the annual spending plan on Monday, according to a statement released this afternoon.

The governor’s statement endorses a plan that makes changes to collective bargaining rights for teachers and other municipal workers. It has drawn national attention and passionate argument inside the State House.

“Since the Legislature’s vote on the final budget, municipal officials and labor leaders have agreed to a few improvements to strengthen the bill,” Patrick said, without detailing those changes.

As part of the agreement, the governor will send back to the Legislature the portion of the state budget that deals with local health costs, making minor changes meant to appease unions. The House and Senate will then take those changes up on Monday.

“I understand that both the House and Senate have called formal sessions for Monday, and I look forward to their action on these amendments at that time,” Patrick said.

The plan strips some collective bargaining rights from local government employees in order to save an estimated $100 million a year in health care costs for financially struggling local governments.

The compromise reached today is expected to gain the support of city and town managers as well as organized labor officials, who had been at odds on the issue. Patrick has been quietly consulting with all sides as he tries to hammer out a compromise on the issue.

Following Patrick’s statement, House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo quickly issued his own this afternoon, confirming his agreement.

“Municipal officials and labor leaders agreed to a few changes that would enrich labor’s role in that process without diminishing the substance of the reform,” wrote.

In a separate press release, Senate President Therese Murray said: “We understand Governor Patrick has come to an agreement with municipal, business and labor leaders on changes to the conference committee’s recommendations regarding municipal health reform. We have been briefed by the administration on those changes and it is our intent to move forward with his recommendations on Monday when he sends it back as an amendment to the budget.”