As reported by nj.com, Governor Chris Christie and Senate President Stephen Sweeney were poised to announce an agreement on a plan to overhaul health and pension benefits for public employees, but were stymied after the compromise received a chilly reception in the Assembly. “We are not there yet,” said Speaker Sheila Oliver, who
collective bargaining
Christie Seeks to Change Health Benefits of Workers Through Collective Bargaining
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, after asserting for months that state employee health benefits will be overhauled through legislation, Governor Chris Christie’s office is now seeking the changes through collective bargaining with the state’s largest employee union.
“He’s out of his cage!” read a memo to Communications Workers of America members obtained by …
Gov. Christie, CWA Begin Bargaining Over Health Benefits
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Contract Negotiations
As reported by nj.com, Governor Chris Christie began bargaining over health benefits for state employees this week, according to a memo sent out to members of the Communications Workers of America obtained by the Star-Ledger.
Christie has been adamant for months that he would obtain changes to employee health benefits through legislation. The new …
Christie Slams Alternative Proposal by CWA on Health Care Benefits
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, Governor Chris Christie panned an alternative proposal by the State’s largest public employee union to overhaul health care benefits. “Their offer stinks,” Christie said at a press conference in Trenton. “It doesn’t save any money.”
Christie wants all state employees to pay for 30 percent of the cost of health …
Ohio Passes Law that Severely Restricts the Collective Bargaining Rights of Public Safety Officers
By Frank M. Crivelli on
Posted in Contract Negotiations
As reported by the New York Times, On Thursday, March 31, 2011, the State of Ohio passed a law that is more restrictive on the collective bargaining rights of Public Safety Officers than the law that was passed in Wisconsin several weeks ago.
While both laws severely limit public employees’ ability to bargain collectively…
Wis. Judge to Evaluate How Union Law Was Passed
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by Yahoo News, having declared that Wisconsin’s divisive union law is not really a law yet, a judge was set to return to one of the underlying questions dogging the measure, whether Republicans violated the state’s open meetings law during the frenzied run-up to passage.
Republican Governor Scott Walker’s administration …
Union Members Turned Away from Statehouse
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, a security decision by State Police to turn union members away from the Statehouse hours before the Senate went into session was criticized as unfair by a key lawmaker and public employee unions. About 50 public employee union members trying to participate in a lobbying day never got inside the …
CWA Offers to Pay More Than 20 Percent of Health Benefits
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, the state’s largest public employee union unveiled its plan for workers to contribute more for their medical coverage in hopes of convincing lawmakers and the public that real savings can be achieved at the bargaining table.
The Communications Workers of America, which represents about 40,000 state workers, detailed …
Christie Refuses to Negotiate Health Care Cost Increases
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, representatives for Governor Chris Christie have told the state’s largest union that the administration’s plan to sharply increase health care costs for public employees was not negotiable, union leaders said.
The Governor’s issue first took the issue of health care costs off the table when negotiations over a new …
CWA Promises Benefit Savings
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Contract Negotiations
As reported by app.com, the union that represents some 35,000 state and local government workers is offering to make changes in New Jersey’s health insurance system that would, as one official promised, save “tens of millions of dollars.” The proposal by the Communication Workers of America came as union leaders and negotiators for Governor …