As reported by nj.com, a Superior Court judge challenging the increased payments judges must make under newly-enacted changes to public worker health and pension benefit plans will not be allowed to have his case directly sent to the New Jersey Supreme Court. In a two-paragraph order issued yesterday, Supreme Court Justice Virginia
healthcare contributions
Move on NJ Health Plan May Cost Towns But Help Power Broker
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nytimes.com, in the last three years, hundreds of cities, towns and school districts in New Jersey have saved tens of millions of dollars on health insurance by dumping their private carriers and switching to a little-known benefits program run by the state. But now one of the state’s most powerful …
Sweeney, Oliver Meet With Unions To Talk Health Care
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, Democratic leaders met with union officials and sources say the topic was overhauling health benefits. Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver met with the heads of the biggest public employee unions: Communications Workers of America, America Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, International …
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 …
Sweeney Plan for Healthcare Reform Gains Little Support Among Democrats
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Uncategorized
As reported by nj.com, Senate President Stephen Sweeney’s plan to require public workers to kick in more for medical benefits is getting little support from his fellow Democrats. As Sweeney scrambles for votes, Senate Republicans say they favor Governor Chris Christie’s proposal, which a new non-partisan report predicts would save about 16 …
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 …
Unions Say Bill on Healthcare Contributions Would Hurt Collective Bargaining Power
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Public Employment Labor Law
As reported by nj.com, leaders of New Jersey’s public workers unions said they will launch a full court press against a bill sponsored by Senate President Stephen Sweeney that would force public employees to pay more for their health care benefits. The unions have called the bill an attempt to throw out collective …
Gov. Christie Goes After State Worker Benefits to Fund Tax Cuts & Credits
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Public Employment Labor Law
As reported on trentonian.com, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie held fast to his national reputation for fiscal discipline amid the widespread financial crisis that has hit the United States, unveiling a $29.4 billion state budget that calls for heftier contributions from state workers for pension and health care benefits.
Christie proposes paying $500 …
Senator Sweeney to Unveil Bill Requiring State Employees to Contribute More for Medical Benefits
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Public Employment Labor Law
As reported by nj.com, Senate President Stephen Sweeney will unveil a plan that aims to slash the State’s huge medical costs by requiring public employees to kick in significantly more to health benefits, according to three officials familiar with the proposal.
The Sweeney plan shares much common ground with Governor Chris Christie’s reform …
Court Rules Healthcare Contribution Legislation is Valid
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Public Employment Labor Law
On January 20, 2011, a New Jersey Superior Court Judge rejected an attempt by various public employee unions to overturn pension changes for new government employees enacted early last year. The laws challenged required new employees to pay 1.5 percent of their salaries toward current health benefits and 1.5 percent of their pensions after …