Mass. Unions Offer Health Care Overhaul Proposal
BOSTON (AP) -- Unions representing state and municipal workers are offering their own proposal to cut the cost of health care spending by cities and towns.
The coalition, including the Massachusetts Teachers Association and Massachusetts AFL-CIO, said the plan would save an estimated $120 million in the first year. The plan calls for half of the savings to go back to workers.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Bernice Corpuz reports
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In return, they said they want to preserve collective bargaining rights.
The proposal includes some of the elements of a bill filed by Gov. Deval Patrick.
Related: Patrick Health Care Reform 2.0
The Massachusetts Municipal Association, which represents cities and towns, is pushing a tougher measure that would strengthen the hands of municipal officials over health costs.
The unions unveiled their plan at Statehouse news conference on Monday, a day before a public hearing on Patrick's bill.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
