Health Care Changes For NJ Gov't Workers Draws Rank-and-File Ire
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) - A New Jersey state senate committee is considering a bill that would require unionized state and local workers to pay more into their health care and pension funds.
But unions have made it clear they are unhappy with the deal hammered out between Democratic legislative leaders and Republican governor Chris Christie.
New Jersey state senate president Steve Sweeney insists he's labor-friendly, but the reaction of those who jammed a committee room in Trenton today might suggest otherwise.
(Sweeney:) "We got into this pension mess because some labor leaders simply failed to be honest with their members. As a labor leader (boos heard)… as a labor leader, in my world I don't mislead my members."
State police had to escort a couple of dozen union members out of the hearing at one point, as thousands of their brethren rallied outside the capitol (see related story).
The general consensus among government workers seemed to be to separate the health and pension plans because, while many support the pension reform, most think that phasing in higher health care payments over four years should be negotiated, not forced on them.
Reported by David Madden, KYW Newsradio 1060
