Massachusetts Voters to Decide on CPCS Union Rights

Ballot Question 2 seeks to grant collective bargaining rights to Committee for Public Counsel Services employees.

Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Unions

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a ballot paper with a single checkmark, symbolizing the upcoming Massachusetts labor policy vote. — Massachusetts voters will cast ballots on November 3 for Question 2, which proposes authorizing collective bargaining for state public counsel employees. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should public employees be granted the right to engage in collective bargaining?

Massachusetts voters will decide on Ballot Question 2 on November 3, which proposes authorizing collective bargaining for employees of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS). Current state statutes specifically exclude these workers from unionization.

Why it matters

Proponents suggest the measure will aid in employee retention and workplace sustainability, while opponents worry it could limit management flexibility and create operational inefficiencies.

The Committee for Public Counsel Services was established by the Legislature in 1983 and currently manages 20 regional and trial offices across Massachusetts. State law currently restricts these employees from forming collective bargaining units.

The players

Committee for Public Counsel Services

This is the state agency responsible for providing legal representation to indigent clients in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Association of Private Appointed Counsel

This organization represents private attorneys who provide appointed counsel services in the state.

The details

The Massachusetts Association of Private Appointed Counsel has officially endorsed the ballot proposal. While no organized group is actively campaigning against the measure, the Secretary of State's Office has published arguments citing potential risks to fiscal and operational management.

1983: The Massachusetts Legislature established the Committee for Public Counsel Services.
November 3: Voters will decide on Ballot Question 2.

Political Context

This ballot initiative directly challenges the established limitations of the Massachusetts public employee collective bargaining statutes. It represents a move to expand labor rights to a workforce segment that has been explicitly excluded from unionization since the agency was created.

If passed, the measure could alter how the agency manages its 20 regional and trial offices and potentially impact the cost of public counsel services for taxpayers. Residents may see shifts in agency operations as collective bargaining protocols are implemented.

The takeaway

Voters face a choice between enhancing employee protections and maintaining current management flexibility within a key state legal agency. The results will determine the labor landscape for public defenders across the Commonwealth.