TRENTON — Police and firefighter unions are in court today as they seek to block cuts to pension and health benefits one day before the changes are scheduled to go into effect. Oral arguments are scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. in state Superior Court in Trenton. The unions, in a lawsuit filed last month, claim three laws signed...
Gov. Chris Christie at the Statehouse in Trenton in this March 2010 file photo.
TRENTON — Police and firefighter unions are in court today as they seek to block cuts to pension and health benefits one day before the changes are scheduled to go into effect.
Oral arguments are scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. in state Superior Court in Trenton.
The unions, in a lawsuit filed last month, claim three laws signed by Gov. Chris Christie violate the collective bargaining process used when negotiating contracts, making them unconstitutional.
The laws, passed with bipartisan support, will decrease pensions for future hires, eliminating a 9 percent increase granted in 2001. And all public workers will be required to contribute 1.5 percent of their salary toward health benefits, expected to save local governments at least $314 million a year.
The state said changes to public employee benefits are in the public interest, overruling the unions' concerns.
Previous coverage:
• N.J. files response to lawsuit challenging public worker pension, benefit changes