Legislation touted as a way to slow the rocketing rise in healthcare costs is getting a mixed reception from local officials.

The Graduate Employee Union joined the protest and announced that graduate teaching assistants and associates were withholding grades until the Tuesday deadline because of contract troubles with the university.

Lexington -Lexington will save $1.1 million on health care over the next two years, thanks to a new deal struck between the town and local employee unions.

President Robert Haynes and Governor Deval PatrickGompers-Murray-Meaney conference in North Falmouth, MA. The Governor renewed his campaign commitment to work with the Labor Movement in the Commonwealth. He has already delivered on his promise to create a new cabinet level position, the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development and has appointed George Noel, former IBEW Local 1505 Business Manager/Financial Secretary, as the Director of Labor.

North Adams – Negotiations between the registered nurse membership of the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) and North Adams Regional Hospital (NARH) broke down this week after the two groups were unable to reach an agreement on a new contract.The MNA negotiating committee rejected the contract proposal offered by the hospital, stating that the offer "stripped registered nurses of benefits they have fought for over the last 25 years," according to a statement released on Wednesday.

Canton -To privatize, or not to privatize—that is the question. Earlier this month, the Canton School Committee decided it was time to address the rumor the school department will privatize custodial and maintenance services.

Secretary Bump and President HaynesGovernor Deval Patrick's Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, Suzanne Bump, spoke before the Massachusetts AFL-CIO at their annual Gompers-Murray-Meaney education conference. She said she and the Governor were working hard to straighten out the backlog of cases before the various state agencies that oversee disputes between labor and management.

On behalf of the union representing some 500 creative, technical, and administrative professionals at WGBH, we appreciate the Globe's editorial (“Studios Worthy of the Station” May 13) lauding the work that we do, along with our colleagues, in producing high-quality television, radio, web, and access services.

Like politicians in Washington, Massachusetts business and labor leaders are finding plenty to gripe about in the proposed overhaul of America's immigration laws.

Stoneham -The back and forth between the Stoneham Teachers Association (STA) and school officials may soon be over. The two sides reportedly came to a tentative contract agreement earlier this week.