Yesterday, I received an email from one of our readers, Ed Mecka, from Hoboken, New Jersey, who turned me on to an article regarding the pension crisis that is taking place in Memphis, Tennessee. The crisis in Memphis has caught the national media’s attention, and an article was printed in the Wall Street Journal a
health care reform
Senator Sweeney Calls Christie’s Labor Negotiations Tactics into Question
As reported on the website, the New Jersey Politicker, Senator Sweeney recently questioned the labor negotiating tactics of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Sweeney went on the record stating “When you hear [Governor Chris Christie] focusing on pension reforms and benefit costs, it got the attention of a lot of people nationally. But the reality…
NJ League of Municipalities Warns that Christie’s Proposed Pension Reform Could Disenfranchise Workers and Trigger a Mass Exodus of Local Employees
As reported in NJ.Com, the New Jersey League of Municipalities stopped short of taking an official position on Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed pension reforms but stated the proposed changes could disenfranchise workers and trigger a mass exodus of local workers. Executive Director Bill Dressel shared the league’s concerns in a letter to the governor…
Christie Pension Commission Recommends Plan For Fewer Benefits
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Retiree Benefits
As reported by NJ.com, Governor Chris Christie’s high-powered pension commission has proposed a sweeping plan that would save the State billions in retirement and health care costs while reducing benefits for hundreds of thousands of public workers. The commissi0n says New Jersey needs to drastically change its pension and health plans. Christie’s budget address…
NJ.Com Editorial Calls for Renewal of the 2% Salary Cap–In Our Opinion, It Has To Go
A recent editorial published on NJ.Com calls for Assembly Speaker, Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson County) to renew the two percent (2%) salary cap on interest arbitration awards for law enforcement officers and firefighters that is set to expire on April 1, 2014.
The editorial stated that the 2% cap had to be put in place
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NJ Voters To Decide If Judges Must Pay More For Pensions, Health Care
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, New Jersey voters will get the last word on whether state judges can be forced to pay more for their pensions and health care. A question on the November 6th ballot asks voters to amend the state constitution to allow a 2011 law to be applied to judges and …
NJ Assembly Passes Landmark Employee Benefits Overhaul
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, New Jersey lawmakers voted to enact a sweeping plan to cut public worker benefits after a long day of high-pitched political drama in the streets of Trenton and behind closed doors. Union members chanted outside the Statehouse and in the Assembly balcony, and dissident Democrats tried to stall with …
Effort to Cut NJ Public Workers Benefits Advances Despite Opposition
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, fierce opposition could not stop the Senate from passing a contentious measure Monday that will sharply raise the cost of health benefits and pensions for the state’s 500,000 public employees. With protesters dressed in Revolutionary-era garb gathered outside the Statehouse and union members clamoring inside, the pivotal Senate vote …
NJ Workers March Across Delaware River In Protest of Benefit Cuts
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, about 200 public employees marched across the Delaware River this morning in protest of cuts to their benefits. Later, protesters attempting to get into the Statehouse were pushed back by State Police troopers.
Led by Revolutionary War re-enactors, the workers carried signs and chanted as they crossed the Calhoun Street …
Benefits Bill Brings More Protests, Debate to NJ
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by app.com, more union protests are planned at the New Jersey Statehouse for Monday as the debate over public employee benefits rages on. A bill requiring sharply higher pension and health care contributions from 500,000 public employees will be voted on in the Senate on Monday, the same day the contentious bill …