June 23, 2010

On Monday, June 21st, NJ union members arrived in Trenton ready to raise their voices against Governor Christie’s so-called ‘tool kit’, which is in reality, a hammer to eliminate public services and the rights of our members to bargain for safe working conditions and fair wages. HPAE members met with several Senators and Assemblypersons to ask the same question: “will you stand with labor and vote no on the ‘tool kit’?”

Hear what one of our members, Doreen Cameron, who was laid off in May after 17 years at UMDNJ-SOM had to say:

The day was quite an eye opener. I often hear, “What do we need a union for?” and I must admit I’ve grumbled a couple of times at the union dues taken from my paycheck, but on lobby day I saw our dues in action. Our union leaders represented us well by fighting against Governor Christie’s “tool kit” which, if passed, will greatly erode the union’s ability to stand up for our rights. The vast majority of the Governor’s ‘tool kit’ proposal would do little to reduce or control costs, as he promises they will, and are instead motivated by politics and the Governor’s continued desire to undermine and erode collective bargaining and other worker protections. This hammer to collective bargaining, if passed, will mean capping negotiated agreements at a max of 2.5 percent increases (including benefits), the dismantling of Civil Service and seniority-based layoff rights, the handpicking of arbitrators, the prohibition of negotiating concerning furloughs, and much more. So it was imperative to hold our decision makers accountable by lobbying.

In the state building we had appointments to see two assemblymen, but as we roamed the halls, HPAE public policy staff (who lobby for us often) recognized almost a dozen other assemblypersons and senators whom we were quickly able to corner and explain how the so-called ‘tool kit’ is really just about dismantling collective bargaining in NJ. We were then able to ask for an official position on the Governor’s ‘tool kit’.

To be completely honest, I would not have been able to be there had I not been laid off. But I soon realized, even though I didn’t say much, my presence was important. Legislators need to see the membership voicing their concerns in order for our requests to have any credibility; our mere presence speaks volumes. I realize, many can’t be there in person, but emails and phone calls are almost as important in showing elected officials that union members are indeed watching those who represent us. It’s logical an assemblyperson or senator would consider how much he/she is hearing from the membership to measure the union’s power – if they don’t hear from us, they don’t have to work for us.

Now I know firsthand that our union members and staff are passionate, and knowledgeable on the issues. And now I can say with confidence our dues are well spent. I hope members will continue to support their patients’ and their personal interests by always writing to our lawmakers whenever union alerts are emailed. They are working to get the issues to us and they can’t do their job as effectively without us!

We'll be working to defend collective bargaining - continue to come back throughout the summer for up to date information.

June 16, 2010

Governor Christie is proposing to limit the amount of money that our communities, state agencies, colleges and schools can spend on education, health care, environmental protection and regulations and safeguards that protect our health and safety.

What Governor Christie calls a ‘tool kit’ is really a set of weapons that will harm our quality of life and ability to support local schools and higher education; state funding for hospitals and health care, and the salaries of municipal workers, teachers, nurses and other public service workers. This ‘tool kit’ doesn’t save money and will not reduce taxes – but it will reduce the services we get in our local communities, and it will give Trenton politicians more power over community decisions.

A Phony Solution to a Real Problem

A constitutional amendment setting a 2.5% ‘cap’ on Property Taxes. Homeowners need real relief from soaring property taxes – this cap is not it. Rather than really holding down our property taxes, the cap would force local layoffs and limit the ability of our local communities to decide for themselves priorities for spending. Current law already has a 4% cap on local budgets, with several exemptions. Research indicates that the adoption of a property tax cap does lead to lower teacher quality and lower student achievement. In Massachusetts, which established a similar cap, the state provided substantial increases in state support to make up for the local lost revenue. Still, local governments were left starved for essential services, including education. Governor Christie’s plan just leaves our towns on their own to deal with the lost funding for local services and schools.

Starving Government Agencies that Protect our Health and Safety

A constitutional amendment to place a 2.5% cap on spending for state government operations. Funding for NJ state colleges, charity care and support for hospitals and agencies that serve to protect the environment, inspect hospitals, and keep our roads safe would all be affected by this cap. Even if economic conditions change – or there is an emergency that demands funding – there is no flexibility in this cap.

Diminish Due Process for Public Service Workers

A ban on collective bargaining agreements that increase wages, health benefits and retirement benefits exceeding 2.5%. This ‘cap’ limits due process in negotiations, allowing politicians to make decisions or override local decision-making. How can towns and government ‘cap’ the amount for health insurance, unless we also ‘cap’ the outrageous increases by insurance companies – and outrageous $8 million CEO compensation?

A Return to Patronage and Political Cronyism: At our Expense

The ‘tool kit’ gives more power to politicians and management to override negotiated contracts, gives elected officials greater control to hire through patronage rather than by qualification (by opting out of civil service protections); to lay-off staff, without consideration of their seniority and experience; to undermine worker protections in personnel actions taken as a result of shared services; and to make it harder for a worker to challenge management decisions by reducing their grievance rights.

Just Say No

These constitutional amendments to slash state and local spending will follow a state budget that already slashes funding for education, municipal aid and health care programs like Family Care and women’s health services. There are alternatives. While Christie demands shared sacrifice – he refused to sign a millionaire’s tax that would help restore some of the funding and services. There are other and better methods to reduce costs and duplication at the local and state levels.

Core Principles of Organized Labor in Opposition to Governor Christie’s “Tool Kit”

1. Protect the integrity of collective bargaining as it exists under current laws, ensure the right to negotiate annual wages, benefits, and contract terms, and the ability to legally enforce those contracts, including through the use of binding arbitration with independent arbitrators.
2. Support a civil service system that governs seniority, hiring and layoff practices and is free from political interference.
3. Protect the principle of just cause and due process for discipline procedures.
4. Preserve interest arbitration for those employees that currently have these protections.
5. Do not erode pension benefits for current workers and retirees.