Senate approves opening collective bargaining to public

The Senate approved legislation allowing the public to sit in on collective bargaining negotiations with public unions, in a 12-11 vote Wednesday to send the proposal to the House.

The bill, Senate Bill 420, would remove language exempting any negotiations from the right-to-know law, which otherwise requires that public bodies keep their meetings open. Under the proposed change, only “strategy sessions” held by a single party would qualify as exempt.

Supporters have pointed to the law as a boost to transparency for voters. But a broad coalition of interest groups — from public unions to selectmen to the state Municipal Association — have opposed the idea, saying it would hamper the ability of parties to effectively negotiate.

Speaking on the floor, Sen. Dan Feltes, D-Concord, made the point, arguing that allowing in audiences would turn the discussions into an unproductive spectacle.

Read more: http://www.concordmonitor.com/New-Hampshire-Senate-approves-opening-collective-bargaining-to-public-16378047