What's At Stake?

Tell your NJ Assembly Representative: Respect Collective Bargaining! Don't Rush Reforms!

On February 8th, three bills and one resolution (S-2: Scutari/O’Toole, S-3: Doherty/Whelan, S-4: O’Toole/Buono, SCR-1: Sweeney/Kean) were introduced in the State Legislature which will affect public employee benefits. Go to http://www.njleg.state.nj.us for full content of bills. Given the scope of the proposed legislation, the NJ AFL-CIO and your Union, in a broad coalition with other labor unions, is planning for a campaign that will require all the membership to be involved.

Synopsis of the Bills:
S2 if enacted would change the pension for new hires to a defined contribution plan, eligibility for enrollment in pension would be defined as 35 hours per week for State workers and 32 hours per week for s the workers 225-4 covers, vesting after 5 years.

S3 continues to allow collective bargaining for health benefits, but is problematic as it calls for implementation of a 1.5% contribution of base salary towards health benefits at the expiration of a negotiated agreement. However, in public employment the norm has been that the current contract continues until we reach a new agreement—this changes the scope. S3 sets the minimum workers would pay towards cost sharing is 1.5% of base salary. It also has a provision for retirees after law is enacted to pay 1.5% of the monthly retirement allowance deducted from their pension checks. It also prohibits multiple coverage in the SHBP or SEHBP, and sets eligibility for health coverage for workers who work not less than 25 hours per week.

S4 if passed eliminates disability pension retirement for workers hired after adopted. Both ordinary and accidental retirements will be replaced with a private disability insurance and it also caps sick leave paid at retirement at 15,000.

SCR-1 is a Constitutional amendment that if approved by voters would require the State to pay each year the full amount of the contribution it is required to make to any defined benefit pension plan operated by the State for public employees. This requirement would commence July 1, 2011. This amendment permits the State to phase in this requirement over a seven year period, by paying at least 1/7th of the contribution in the first year with payments increasing each year thereafter. While it may sound great to fund our pension after a 10 year hiatus, the danger is what if the public says no?

It is our opinion that these bills should not be rushed into enactment without fully evaluating their impact on literally tens of thousands of public employee that reside in every legislative district. We must protect and preserve the collective bargaining process! Call and write your State Assembly Represesentative.

In Solidarity,
Christopher W. Mikkelson
President

TWU Scores Big Victory Beating Back Raid in N.J.

TWU Local 225 Branch 4 mobilized its membership to trounce a raid of TWU’s Brick Township schools unit in the middle of delicate contract negotiations. Members turned back this attempt by a renegade group to disrupt negotiations by an overwhelming 85% vote with nearly all members voting.

Transit Director and Administrative Vice President Susan Resch, a former Brick municipal employee, complimented the team effort by the Local, the International staff, the New Jersey State Federation of Labor and the Monmouth Ocean Central Labor Council. “We have been here for almost 40 years negotiating strong contracts and clearly our members understand that the TWU provides the best representation.”

Local 225 Branch President Chris Mikkelson and Rec. Secretary Joyce Kramer contacted the International when evidence of a raid became apparent and a team was assembled to work with Local activists to beat back the hostile takeover. In response, Int'l President Jim Little directed the Int'l Administrative Committee to put the union’s resources behind the effort. Resch coordinated the campaign with help from the Int'l officers and staff including Executive VP Harry Lombardo, Research and Education Director Bob Wechsler, Organizing Director Frank McCann, Counsel David Rosen and Int'l Rep. Jerome Lafragola. McCann’s Organizing Department provided much of the fieldwork as the overall campaign unfolded. Organizer Tony Beck and Civil and Human Rights Director Sandra Burleson rounded out the team.

A number of rallies and meetings were held in Brick where various TWU and labor representatives spoke. These included the Int'ls Lombardo, Resch, Lafragola, and McCann, Local Counsel Jeff Caccese, and Monmouth and Ocean Council CLC President Wyatt Earp.

President Mikkelson thanked the volunteer core of members and retirees who made the landslide victory possible: “It couldn’t happened without the tireless work of our volunteers who went door-to-door and made phone calls.”

That volunteer group included Rec. Secretary Margaret Reddan, VP Scott Sargent, Brick Chair and E-Board Member Lisa Hand, Sue Carbone, Kathy Bennett, Bobbie O’Brien, Maureen Bresee, Diana DesJardins, Pete DeRosa, Ann Morgan, Claire Gianettino, Hank Sneyers, Tom and Ann Fiorentino, Ann Morgan, Gloria Dykes, Dale Cali, Celina Suckiel, Holly Miller, Joe Ernst, Kenneth Estelle, Robert Gianettino, John Gianettino, Annmarie Hubert, Arthur Johnson John Mills and Diane Nase.