Are You Ready to Fight the Attack on Public Workers?

With a fiscal state of emergency declaration from a hostile Governor and a series of so-called pension “reform” bills rapidly moving through the Democratically-controlled NJ Senate, public workers are facing a tough time in Trenton. This could mean increased health insurance contributions and diminished pension benefits for URA-AFT members.

“The current Senate measures attack benefits that were negotiated,” said URA-AFT executive vice president Nat T. Bender. “The tone in Trenton is ugly. The Governor is goading the legislature into undercutting the collective bargaining process.”

Returning from meeting with union members who serve in the state assembly and senate, Bender reported that these leaders strongly recommending union members call on their representatives to oppose ill-advised legislation and propose alternative solutions.

URA-AFT is looking for members to participate in its legislative committee and committee on political education to do so. These vital working groups meet with legislators in their home district offices and reach out to other union members to protect a viable public sector and quality delivery of services including education.
To get involved with the effort, contact Bender at 732-745-0300 or nbender@ura-aft.org or legislative chair Helen Pirrello at hpirrello@ura-aft.org.

This Week's News Clips
-Christie announces slashing $62 million from higher education this year and also urged the Legislature to strengthen a sweeping package of pension and benefit reforms proposed by the state Senate this week. He said he wants an "even stronger" version of the bipartisan bills on his desk before his March 16 speech on the next budget. See http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/chris_christie_declares_state.html for the full story.

-The Ledger reported on Tuesday that “lawmakers have said the governor wants to require higher employee contributions to health benefits” and that the Senate legislation would reduce workers’ pensions. See http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/gov_chris_christie_praises_pen.html for the full story.

Rutgers Cut
Of Gov. Christie's $62 million cut to higher education, the word in the capital was that Rutgers would lose $17 million. URA-AFT president Lucye Millerand pointed out that the university's December report to the state treasurer reflected more than twice that figure in salary savings from deferred compensation agreements with campus unions.