As reported by nj.com, the Reverend Al Sharpton stepped into New Jersey’s budget battle, joining a chorus of union leaders criticizing Governor Chris Christie’s economic policies and urging New Jerseyans to push back against a nationwide campaign to weaken organized labor. At rallies in Newark, Trenton, and Vineland, Sharpton said the state would
Governor Christie
Christie Estimates Changes in Employee Benefits Will Save $870M Per Year
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, Governor Chris Christie estimates his plan to overhaul the state’s public employee health benefits system will save more than $870 million a year by 2014 by shifting significant percentage of the costs to employees and future retirees, according to the Treasury Department.
In the most detailed explanation of the …
Christie, Sweeney To Talk to Camden County Officials About Consolidating Police, Fire Departments
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, Governor Chris Christie and State Senate President Stephen Sweeney will speak with elected officials from Camden County about the benefits of consolidating local police and fire departments. The meeting will take place March 23, 2011 at Camden County College and is closed to the public and media. Christie is scheduled …
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 …
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 …
Governor Chris Christie Has $95,000/Year Expense Account
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by trentonian.com, Governor Chris Christie quietly receives an expense account of $95,000 a year and does not have to tell anyone how it is spent. This annual “allowance” is being renewed for fiscal year 2012, continuing a 35 year old custom to make sure the Governor has enough dough to pay for…
Sweeney Pushing Legislation for Shared-Services Agreements
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by app.com, State Senate President Stephen Sweeney said he will push for a law aimed at moving the State’s 566 municipalities into shared-service agreements. Sweeney said he would introduce the legislation this week.
The bill is expected to revive the Local Unit Alignment, Reorganization and Consolidation Commission (“LUARC”), created some four years …
Labor Attorneys Urge Legislature to Abandon Plan to Increase Contributions to Health Benefits
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, days before the governor’s office and the state’s largest public employees union are scheduled to sit down for the first time, lawmakers are receiving letters warning of dire results that could come from changing employee benefits through law.
A letter, cosigned by 48 labor attorneys, claims that if lawmakers …
Recently Released Salary Figures Are Backdrop To Impending Contract Negotiations
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Contract Negotiations
As reported by trentonian.com, New Jersey’s state government unions are up against more than a combative Governor Chris Christie going into contract negotiations. They are up against numbers regarding their salary, which were recently released and could complicate their efforts to rally public opinion to their side.
More than 17,000 union represented state …
Police, Fire Union Leaders Slam Christie At Rally
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, leaders of police and firefighter unions slammed Governor Chris Christie at a rally outside the Statehouse on March 3, 2011.
Bill Lavin, president of the New Jersey Firefighter’s Mutual Benevolent Association, said Christie loves police and firefighters, but hates the unions because “he hates your voice.” Lavin said the …