(Video) A law reducing pension and health care benefits for police and firefighters will go into effect today after a state judge Thursday refused to block it. Unions representing police and firefighters argued that the changes improperly infringe upon the collective bargaining process. They also said the requirement to contribute 1.5 percent of their salary to health care constitutes a tax on public employees. But Superior Court Judge Linda Feinberg rejected their arguments, allowing the changes to go into effect. “I don’t think it’s a tax,” she said. “It’s a medical contribution.”
The unions had filed their motion on behalf of about 215 police and fire locals in some stage of arbitration, saying the process for hammering out contracts would be upended if the changes are enacted.
“You are clearly treading on a protected right in an unreasonable way,” said attorney David Fox, who represented the Firefighter’s Mutual Benevolent Association.
Although their motion failed, union lawyers said they will continue to push their lawsuit in an effort to prove the legislation is unconstitutional.
“This is just a skirmish in the battle,” said attorney Paul Kleinbaum, who represented the New Jersey State Policeman’s Benevolent Association. He argued that the 1.5 percent contribution constituted an improper tax specifically on public employees.
“It’s a deduction from payroll for the purpose of raising revenue,” he said. “If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it’s a duck.”
Assistant Attorney General Nancy Kaplan, who argued on behalf of the state, said the Legislature was well within its right to set benchmarks for public employee benefits.
“There is nothing that rises to the level of unconstitutionally in this statute,” she said. “Policy can be changed.”
The League of Municipalities praised Feinberg’s decision.
“We have been calling for pension and benefit reforms for some time,” Executive Director William Dressel said. “The required 1.5 percent contribution will go a long way towards helping local governments keep costs under control and keep taxes down.” Star Ledger
| Union workers disapprove of NJ state pension changes |
OUTRAGEOUS, With Police officers and Fire officers who choose to work for the public by offering to relinquish their own personal safety in order to provide safety to everyone else should at least be afforded free health care. They encounter very dangerous & hazardous working conditions when called to duty. These men and women are injured more frequently than the average person on the job. Its a shame that people tend to have short memories of the sacrafices that are made by these brave souls. Thanks Gov.Chris “do as i say not as i do”Christie, this man is even taking healthy meals away from children in school. Whats rational about this???? Recall!! Recall!! Recall!!
Well said #1!!!
Are you crazy the governor is the man keep up the fight take down the unions who are ripping all of us off.
to #1 if you are injured on the job it is work mans comp not their health care different insurance.
If they don’t like the salary package the can try and find work elswere, in this economy they should be happy they have jobs!
Thank you Gov. Chrisitie you are delivering on your promises and alot of people are bent out of shape they cant handle it a politician actually delivering on his promises, wow what a concept! just the fact that the unions disapprove of it should tell you that its the right thing to do. the union bosses are the most corrupt mafioso’s around and they feel their power being taken from them and they are reacting like a cornered animal, its so fun to watch. Unions are unamerican and in the most cases Criminal
I’m with #1. besides, a lot of them already pay into their benefits. It’s something they negotiate with the municipality- why does the governor have to get in the middle??
and does HE pay into his health insurance??? What about his cronies?
less than 2 % what are they crying about?
To # 3
The unions are the only thing we have to keep the greedy aspects of capitalism in check. Without unions this country will only speed its charge toward 3rd world country status. The gap between the rich and poor continues to grow and the middle class is disappearing into the poor. Every line of work should have a union to protect them from greedy management and owners. You are either truly ignorant on the importance of unions or jealous that you don’t have the protection of one. I have worked in non-union shops and been a victim of their greedy practices, I will never have a career in a non-union shop again!
#9 I applaud you for not hiding what your positions are and admitting to be a socialist, thats what unions have always been about as you so eloquently admitted that thats what you want, i have some news for you buddy in America if your good at what you do you will be hired and paid accordingly the only ones who need a union to back them up are unqualified who cant get hired for their skill, so they join a union to get a free pass
What about elected officials? They get a stipend (pay) and after 10 years of service get medical benefits for life. Most PO and other public workers have to be in the system 20 – 25 years to get life benefits. Oh yeah what about all the attorneys hold positions in multiple towns dobuble/triple dipping same deal as the elected officials. It’s not the Cops, fire, first aid or public workers that are killing the system – it’s the elected officials and their cronnies. You what to stop waste and cut taxes start there. Our system of electing the common man was to elect a your neigbor, let him serve a term and return to the community, then have another citizen be elected. Not have career politians who have lost their sense of the common man and are lining their and their friends pockets. I for one have no issue paying 1.5 % for my benefits, does that mean I no longer have to pay the 20% i already pay?
#11 what you say cant make sense, while i agree that public officials get way to much and should get the least benefits of all workers, the fiscal problems we have cant be from them they make up a tiny minority of workers to make difference. We have to start will the largest working groups and those are the police firemen teachers etc…
You need to see the facts, we pay for our benefits per union contract. U have to take in all the attorneys, engineeers, planners etc. Yes they are a smaller group but they get larger payouts. Almost 3 to 1. Thats the whole scam by Gov. Christie, he’s protecting his own.
So not only do the Firefighters & Cops have to start doing this …ALL Public Employees will have to do this come Jan 1. This means Police dispatchers, township employees, and the Emergency Services workers of this “great state” will have to pay more into this failing system..I dislike this state..I say we send a message to those people collecting benefits if you are not a full time employee you are not allowed benefits..Stop blowing all our money on Part time committee members they already have jobs..collect your benefits from them..leave our system alone