As you may know, the Legislature had announced its intention to push S-40 and A-2 through without adequate committee review and without adequate public comment. Together with the CWA and host of other unions, NJEA scheduled a news conference yesterday afternoon to denounce both the process and the legislation. That news conference was cancelled because there was a breakthrough development.
Governor Corzine told the legislators that the most harmful provisions of the legislation must be removed immediately so that he can negotiate them with the state public employee unions.
The following provisions of the bill will be removed:
--Moving part-time employees into a defined contribution plan
--Capping unused sick leave payouts at retirement
--Implementing the uniformity clause
--Eliminating the non-forfeitable right for new hires to their pensions
--Automatic pension forfeiture for public employees convicted of a crime
--Precluding public employees charged with a crime from participating in the pre-trial
intervention program
--Changing the highest average salary average for pension calculation from three to five years
and for vets from one to three years
--Moving accidental and ordinary disability coverage to a private carrier.
While these provisions will be removed from the bill, we still have challenges ahead with these concepts. There will be more battle to come, but we wanted you to know that the pressure we have already put on the legislature and our relationship with the governor is making a difference. We look forward to seeing you at our great rally on Monday!
