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TagsBY BOB HOLT
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
Governor Chris Christie’s ongoing battles with labor unions has moved to the largest employee's union in the state.
The Communications Workers of America have filed a claim of unfair labor practices against Christie's administration, saying it will not respond to their health-care benefit proposals.
The employees' union says Governor Christie has not been willing to negotiate its health benefit offer in four meetings since the first day the sides began talking about a new contract.
"We continue to just try to do everything we possibly can to persuade ‘Governor I-Love-Collective-Bargaining’ to negotiate,” said Hetty Rosenstein, local director for the CWA, according to NJ.com.
Christie and Democratic Senate President Stephen Sweeney each propose to change health-care through legislation. Sweeney wants to combine the changes to medical benefits with pension system changes into one bill and see it come to a vote before Memorial Day.
Philly.com reports that meanwhile, the Christie administration estimates their plan to save $871 million by 2014 — a figure being questioned by Democrats.
According to the Asbury Park Press, Christie has said that unions have been playing both ends of the spectrum for years — receiving pay and benefits through contract negotiation while picking up extras through legislation.
The CWA represents about 40,000 state workers. Contracts are set to expire at the end of June.
Having said that, why is not the same investment principle carried over to the employee-only funded Deferred Compensation Plan? Why are commissioned based mutual funds being sold to NJ public employees when no-load, de minimus cost funds are readily available?