As reported by nj.com, more than 40 city firefighters and police officers rallied around City Hall this morning in Camden, demanding Mayor Dana Reed bring back some of the laid off public safety employees that were let go earlier this year. Nearly half the police force and one-third of firefighters were laid off
Public Employment Labor Law
NJ Public Employee Retirement On the Rise
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Public Employment Labor Law
As reported by nj.com, more than 20,000 police officers, firefighters, teachers, and other public employees put in their retirement papers last year as momentum was building for sweeping health and pension reform in Trenton, state figures show. That is a 60 percent jump from 2009 retirements and the highest in at least a decade, …
NJEA President Accuses Gov. Christie of Trying to Start a “Middle-Class Civil War”
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Public Employment Labor Law
As reported by nj.com, the President of the state’s largest teachers union accused Governor Chris Christie of trying to foment a civil war within the middle-class. “All of New Jersey’s middle-class is hurting, but this governor and his right-wing supporters are trying to start a middle-class civil war,” said New Jersey Education Association President …
Gov. Begins Budget War in West Deptford
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Public Employment Labor Law
As reported by nj.com, Governor Chris Christie began a town hall push to press lawmakers to make state employees pay more for benefits or be blamed for scotching property tax relief. The first meeting took place on February 24, 2011 in West Deptford, the hometown of Senate President Stephen Sweeney.
Speaking to a …
Christie Says He Backs “Responsible” Collective Bargaining
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Public Employment Labor Law
As reported by app.com on February 23, 2011, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who gained a national reputation fighting the state’s teachers and public employee unions, said that organized labor should have collective bargaining rights. One day after proposing a new state budget that requires public employees to pay more for pension and health …
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 …
NJ Public Unions to Rally in Support of Wisconsin Workers
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Public Employment Labor Law
As reported by nj.com, the largest state employee unions in New Jersey are organizing a rally at the Statehouse on February 25, 2011 to express support for workers rallying in Wisconsin. The Communication Workers of America, which represents most of the state’s employees, will participate in the rally and National AFL-CIO President Richard …
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 …
Democrats Fight Gov. Christie’s Plan to Privatize NJ Government Functions
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Public Employment Labor Law
As reported by nj.com, Democrats are pushing back against Gov. Chris Christie’s plan to privatize some state government functions by calling for a change in the state constitution to put a short leash on agencies that want to hire private firms.
Under a plan discussed in the Assembly State Government Committee, state …
Pension Gap Drops NJ’s Bond Ratings
By Donald C. Barbati on
Posted in Public Employment Labor Law
As reported by app.com, New Jersey’s credit rating was downgraded by a major Wall Street rating agency, whose concerns over state debt and obligations for public retirees’ benefits now mean higher costs for the state to borrow money. Standard & Poor’s moved New Jersey’s bond rating down a notch to its fourth highest …