TRENTON — State worker unions are planning to protest outside the Statehouse this afternoon in a last-ditch effort to derail legislation that would overhaul pension and health benefits for public workers. The rally is scheduled to begin at noon, an hour before the state Assembly is to convene and vote on the bill (A4133). Despite a similar rally on...
TRENTON — State worker unions are planning to protest outside the Statehouse this afternoon in a last-ditch effort to derail legislation that would overhaul pension and health benefits for public workers.
The rally is scheduled to begin at noon, an hour before the state Assembly is to convene and vote on the bill (A4133). Despite a similar rally on Monday — complete with Revolutionary-war era costumed demonstrators — the state Senate passed the bill 24-15.
The Assembly is the last stop before the bill heads to Gov. Chris Christie's desk for his signature.
The legislation already cleared the Assembly Budget Committee on Monday 7-5 after eight hours of testimony. It requires the state's 500,000 public workers to contribute more to their health care, increases pension costs, and raises the retirement age from 62 to 65 for new workers.
Public workers oppose the bill because they say it curtails their right to collectively bargain changes to their health benefits.
Christie says without such changes, the state's pension system will eventually go broke after his predecessors shirked their responsibility to pay into the system. Passage of the legislation will be a political victory for Christie, as well as Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), the bill's architect. Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) is also backing the legislation.
More coverage:
• Effort to cut N.J. public worker benefits advances despite 'revolutionary' opposition
• Health and pension overhaul clears N.J. Assembly Budget Committee
• N.J. pension reform vote reveals unusual political alliances
• N.J. public workers march across the Delaware River in protest of benefit cuts