As reported by app.com, New Jersey’s credit rating was downgraded by a major Wall Street rating agency, whose concerns over state debt and obligations for public retirees’ benefits now mean higher costs for the state to borrow money. Standard & Poor’s moved New Jersey’s bond rating down a notch to its fourth highest
February 2011
NJ Republican Propose Pension Reform Legislation
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Public Employment Labor Law
As reported by nj.com on February 8, 2011, Governor Christie’s plan to drastically change the State’s troubled pension system was introduced by Republican lawmakers on February 7, 2011, but Democrats who control the Legislature indicated they will push their own plan instead.
Assemblymen Declan O’Scanlon and Gary Chiusano sponsored Christie’s proposals in …
Police, Firefighters to Address NJ Senate On How Layoffs Are Affecting Public Safety
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Public Employment Labor Law
As reported by nj.com on February 7, 2011, lawmakers in the New Jersey Senate will hear from police and firefighters about how layoffs are impacting public safety.
The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee has invited several speakers to address a recent spike in violent crime. The hearing scheduled for February 7, 2011 will …
Newark: Drop in Arrests, Summonses At End of Year
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Public Employment Labor Law
As reported by nj.com on February 7, 2011, Newark police have made nearly half as many arrests, issued fewer summonses and conducted fewer inquiries in the second half of 2010 than in the same period the previous year, a decline some law enforcement officials say was tied to hostile layoff negotiations.
A public and …
Christie Turns Down Bill to Overhaul Civil Service System
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Public Employment Labor Law
As reported by nj.com on February 4, 2011, the effort to reform the State of New Jersey’s civil service system stalled as Governor Chris Christie conditionally vetoed a bill to overhaul the system and Democratic legislative leaders declared they will not agree to his proposed changes.
Christie called the Democrats’ bill “tepid, ineffective …
NJ Union Officials to Serve on Arbitration Reform Task Force
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Contract Negotiations
As reported by app.com on February 1, 2011, two major public safety unions opposed new arbitration caps on the raises that can be given to their members, but union representatives will play a key role in deciding whether those caps, designed to give taxpayers a break from skyrocketing public worker salaries, remain in effect …