As reported by nj.com, irate public employees converged on the Statehouse by the thousands Thursday touting horns, carrying signs, and disrupting a Senate hearing, but the show of force failed to break a legislative agreement overhauling their state health and pension benefits. Union members gathered at the Statehouse steps and clogged a Senate hearing
health care
Some Democrats Tell Protesters They Will Not Vote For Public Worker Pension, Benefit Overhaul
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, rank-and-file Democrats are lining up to take the microphone at a steadily growing union rally outside the Statehouse today, vowing to cast no votes on a bill that would overhaul pension and benefits for teachers, cops, firefighters, and others.
Assemblymen Wayne DeAngelo, Daniel Benson, Patrick Diegnan, Reed Gusciora, Vincent …
Public Employees With 20 Years of Service Would Lock In Benefits Under Change to Proposed Plan
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, employees with at least 20 years of service would lock in their retirement benefits under a last-minute change to the health and pension overhaul bill, according to Senate Democrats.
Under the current bill, only those employees with at least 25 years of service would have had their retirement benefits …
Overhaul To Pension System Pushed Forward By Sweeney
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, despite a rising chorus of opposition from fellow Democrats, the Senate President and Assembly Speaker pressed forward Tuesday to overhaul health and pension benefits for the state’s 500,000 public employees. After trying for a week to line up Democratic support for the measure with little success, Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver…
As State Democrats Prepare To Introduce Healthcare Reform, Christie’s Stance Remains Unclear
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, the state’s top lawmakers said Monday they cleared a significant hurdle in efforts to overhaul public employee benefits after agreeing to a plan that shifts more medical costs onto workers while protecting future collective bargaining rights.
The spotlight now turns to Governor Chris Christie, who has been uncharacteristically …
CWA Head Says Sweeney’s Health Benefit Proposal Is Misleading
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, the state’s largest public employee union said State Senate President Stephen Sweeney has released misleading information about how his health benefit overhaul will affect the pocketbooks of workers.
Sweeney wants to shift more of the costs of health benefits onto public workers. All state and local public employees would pay …
Sweeney Says He Is Drafting Bill To Change Pension, Benefits System for Public Workers
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, Senate President Stephen Sweeney said today he plans to introduce legislation to increase health and pension benefits payments for public workers and that the Budget and Appropriation Committee will hold a hearing on it next week.
Sweeney and Governor Chris Christie have reached an agreement on the measure, but …
CWA Files Unfair Practice Charge Against Christie
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Contract Negotiations
As reported by app.com, New Jersey’s largest state worker union filed an unfair practice charge against Governor Chris Christie’s administration, saying the administration has so far refused to negotiate health care costs.
The Communication Workers of America filed the charge with the state Public Employment Relations Commission (“PERC”) on May 12, 2011. Union …
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 …