That debate is whether or not to advance contracts for bargaining units so that those units will operate under a closed shop for as long as possible.  Union leadership, in order to extend their hold on the workers is willing to concede items already won.  Public sector employers, seeing an opportunity to get concessions not so easily given before, is eager to capitulate. By golly taxpayers are well served, right? Win Win, right? Right?

I guess its a matter of perspective.  

For the employees, they get to find out how well they have been served by their bargaining masters.  Being locked in so that they can lose a perk or two, and with an added bonus of having several more years of unaccountability?  A BARGAIN at half the price!

Even a contract signed as recently as November can be reopened and dealt away on the basis of expected health benefits costs, and a college which hopes to limit its exposure

" MCAAP and MCCFO took the offer, he surmised, because they were going to be subject to the health care changes before the end of 2013 anyway."

A few more shekels out of the employees pockets, so that they may remain the property of the union for an additional 5 months.