Christie has been pushing for privatization of toll collection, but had offered to let the union find the savings in their contract and remain a state operation
In this file photo, Gregory Junemann, president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, talks to members of IFPTE Local 194 as they rally against the Turnpike Authority's proposed privatization efforts in the lobby of the authority's headquarters. TRENTON — The union that represents toll collectors and other employees on the New Jersey Turnpike filed a lawsuit in federal court today asking a vote to privatize their jobs be delayed.
Gov. Chris Christie has been pushing for privatization of the toll collection operations, but had offered to let the toll collector union find the savings in their contract and remain a state operation. The unions offered to take pay cuts, but Christie hasn't agreed to a new contract.
The Turnpike Authority released a "request for proposal" to allow private companies to bid on the contract to run the tolls.
The unions is upset because the Turnpike Authority removed a requirement that any company that takes over the tolls hire current collectors before looking elsewhere, according to a news release. Referred to as the "right of first refusal," the requirement would ensure current toll collectors did not lose employment.
The IFPTE Local 194, which represents the toll collectors, claim that the right of first refusal was removed in retaliation for union members criticizing the decision to privatize the toll collection operations.
“In December, Turnpike management told us that they wanted $12 - $14 million in concessions, to stop the privatization. We offered $16 million and we may be willing to give more, but the Turnpike won't even meet with us or respond to our offer," Fran Ehret, president of the toll collectors union, said in a statement. "They appear to be intent upon destroying collective bargaining and middle-class jobs in New Jersey.”
The union is asking a federal judge to stop any vote or movement toward privatization until the right of first refusal is restored to the requirements for a contract.
“This was an ugly and immoral thing to do to workers who have devoted their lives to public service," Ehret said in a statement. "It was illegal and violates our First Amendment right to speak out against privatization. The Christie administration and the Turnpike Authority would rather destroy the lives of middle class families than negotiate with unions."
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Previous coverage:
• N.J. Turnpike, Garden State Parkway toll collectors are mulling concessions to avoid privatization
• N.J. Turnpike toll collectors protest privatization plan
• Employees protest plans to privatize N.J. Turnpike, Garden State Parkway jobs in Woodbridge