CWA Responds to Christie's Budget Address; Urges Workers to Take Action

The Communications Workers of America (AFL-CIO) issued the following statement in response to Governor Christie’s call today for a “statesmanlike” approach to dealing with the state’s fiscal problems:

"The approach Gov. Christie articulated today reflects anything but statesmanship.  We do have a tradition of statesmanship in New Jersey -- open dialogue with stakeholders, working together to solve our problems, sharing sacrifice and not resorting to name-calling.  Gov. Christie has rejected that tradition with his refusal to meet the women and men who do the public's work, his vilification of us as blameworthy special interests and his failure to ask the wealthiest New Jerseyans to do their fair share.

"Public workers have stepped up and made hard sacrifices already -- almost half a billion dollars in wage and benefit concessions over the last three years.  We want to work together with the Governor and the legislature, with a shared commitment to solving the problems that we are dealing with together and avoiding devastating in human services, rental assistance, transportation and offices like the Public Advocate."

CWA Urges Workers to Take Action

CWA is asking all members to print this flyer and share it with coworkers.  Additionally, immediate action is required to call State Senators about proposed changes to public employees' pensions and health benefits.  Senate Leaders are trying to railroad the changes through in the next two weeks, so there is no time to waste.  A detailed sheet about the proposed pension changes can be found by clicking here.

More Information

The full text and a short video of Christie's speech can be found here, and the full text of Christie's Executive Order is here.