TRENTON — The leader of the New Jersey Senate says pension and health care benefits for the average public safety worker cost local governments $47,000 a year. He says those costs will cause the systems to collapse unless workers start paying more. Senate President Stephen Sweeney said today that pension and health benefits reforms he's proposed are designed to...
Gov. Chris Christie and Sen. President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) shake hands after a press conference where it was announced that they have reached a deal on a key part of Christie's "tool kit."TRENTON — The leader of the New Jersey Senate says pension and health care benefits for the average public safety worker cost local governments $47,000 a year. He says those costs will cause the systems to collapse unless workers start paying more.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney said today that pension and health benefits reforms he's proposed are designed to keep the systems solvent, not hurt workers.
Unions representing police, firefighters, teachers and government workers oppose the reforms. They call for public-sector workers to pay a greater share of health insurance premiums and contribute a greater percentage of their salaries toward their pensions.
Sweeney's health care proposal is similar to a plan drafted by Republican Gov. Chris Christie.
Public safety workers plan to protest outside the Statehouse on Thursday.
Previous coverage:
• N.J. unions vow to fight Sweeney's bill boosting workers' payments for benefits
• N.J. Sen. Sweeney to unveil bill requiring state employees to contribute more for medical benefits
• N.J. Senate President Sweeney says state must pay into pension system for reform to happen
• Sweeney vows to block Gov. Christie's pension reform bills until N.J. relieves overburdened fund
• N.J. files response to lawsuit challenging public worker pension, benefit changes
• N.J. police, firefighter unions sue to stop pension reform laws
• N.J. lawmakers trying to reach deal on pension reform bill banning part-time workers from system
• N.J. Assembly introduces pension reform bills to reduce state worker benefits