Governor Christie: Wrong About Public Workers
May 22: Citizen's Rally in Trenton.
Sign up to attend here if you are a member of CWA, or register here if you are not.
While working families in New Jersey are going to see their taxes rise and their services cut due to Chris Christie's budget priorities, millionaires in New Jersey are getting a tax cut. And to shift the blame away from his Wall Street cronies and his own wreckless decisions, Christie has decided to lash out against some of the hardest working and most dedicated people in our state: Our public workers.
To educate the public about the real face of New Jersey's public employees, the Communications Workers of America (AFL-CIO) has produced a series of educational ads designed to introduce state employees to the public, and display the commitment they have to making our communities a better place to live.
And because we care about our communities, we're not stopping there. Chris Christie is cutting funds for the developmentally disabled, the unemployed, seniors, women's health, and libraries--and all of this while the average family making $1.2 million a year receives a property tax cut of nearly $12,000. That's why on Saturday, May 22, CWA is joining hundreds of community groups from all over New Jersey in Trenton to call on the State Legislature to pass a responsible budget. One that reflects our values and our communities.
If you are a CWA member and would like to attend the rally, please fill out this form and submit it to your local. If you are anyone else, please go to this website to register for the rally. Thank you for viewing our site, and remember, on May 22, all roads lead to Trenton!
I have mixed feelings. Of course public workers are hard workers. But I work really hard too, as an engineer, and I don't make a whole lot, and I don't nearly get the kind of benefits and perks that are afforded to public workers by taxpayers. And since I work in the private sector, I could get my job cut any day in a layoff due to company issues, even though I'm working hard and my own performance is solid. Private sector employees put themselves on the line every day in this sense. Public workers don't really see that kind of risk except for really bad economic times, in which case they only see job cuts after thousands of private sector workers have been laid off. In fact, the only reason that they lose their jobs in *that* case, is that the people who lose their jobs in the private sector can no longer pay the taxes to subsidize these jobs.
The fact is that public workers are hard workers in NJ. There's no denying that, I see that every day. But when you see these huge, cushy benefits that they get, paid for by similarly hard-working folks such as myself (who don't get those benefits), it starts to look very unfair. Especially at a time like now when we have to get our fiscal house in order. We don't want NJ to end up like California (who can barely pay their expenses, partially because scaling back their public-worker benefits is such a touchy issue), nor do we want the USA to end up like Greece. These are serious times.
HOW CAN NEW JERSEY'S GOVERNMENT SAY THEY ARE BROKE???!!! WHEN NEW JERSEY COLLECTS MONEY FROM SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW LIVING OUT OF NEW JERSEY. I AM TALKING ABOUT BILLIONS A YEAR AND I AM TALKING ABOUT MOTOR VEHICLE COMMISSION. THERE IS SO MUCH MONEY COMING INTO THIS STATE FROM ALL OVER THE US AND FROM NJ RESIDENCE. THE QUESTION IS WHAT ARE "YOU" CHRISTIE DOING WITH ALL OF OUR MONEY!!!
CHRISTIE YOU ARE A BIG FAT LIAR!!! YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT FAMILIES IN NJ YOU ARE TAKING FOOD, HOMES, AND EDUCATION FORM ALL OF US WHO HAVE TO STRUGGLE. DO THE SAME TO YOUR KIDS AND FAMILY AND THEN YOU CAN SAY YOU UNDERSTAND.
Go Gov. Christie....you are doing the right thing for Jersey...The handout line has finally come to an end, and the crying has started. He's doing what he said he'd do, Give NJ back to the taxpayer and take it away from the big unions.
i keep hering that hes trying to cut off ga for welfar i need cause i get my little girl every other weekend for here mom & im out every day from 9:00 to 4:00 looking for work plz any one tell me if this is true e-mail me at [email address removed by editor]
Someday, somebody is going to have to pay the piper!
We have been spending, spending, spending. I am not wild about what Christie is doing, but somebody has to stop the spending and debt madness.
I am currently unemployed, for about 2 weeks now. My wife is in the teaching field and has bloated benefits and a bloated pension plan. The bloated part that bothers me is that, after she retires, I will be fully covered for all medical as long as she is alive. While I am glad to have the medical coverage available to me later in life, as a tax payer, I find that unconscionable! I have a friend with the same package but his wife is a 20 hour/week part time librarian. That is so wrong!
It's time to stop the madness. Just look at the socialist state going crazy in Greece. WAKE UP!!
Let us all keep in mind what Our State will be like with insufficient staffing in state psychiatric hospitals and prisons. Releasing prisoners early or patients prematurely will undoubtedly have devastating effects on innocent and unsuspecting citizens! "The belt must be tightened" on government waste; it must NOT be tightened indiscriminately.
J. Chandler
I've been teaching for 16 years. So exactly where are these bloated benefits? What school systems have them? I've got two kids, just about make ends meet, been driving the same car for 10 years, and have to pay for part of my medical benefits. By the way, I am in the same situation as the majority of teachers in NJ.
Why are you hurting hard working people in New Jersey.... Why are you hurting the seniors in this state.
You just don't get it Mr. Christie.....We feel like you are raping us and our hands are tied behind our back.. All the while the rich are watching us and laughing because they are not losing a thing...
We(us blue collar worker and the seniors citizen's work hard all our lives and a man like you comes along and stick it to us and takes away everything we work hard to get..
Put yourself in our shoes.. try and raise a family or be on a fix income .. I know you would not last 24 hours in our shoes.. How would you like to be a senior citizen and try to live on $50 a week for grocery and go without food to get your medicine.. This is what you are doing to my husband and myself. You are taking away everything from us while the rich people get richer.. And by the way Mr. Christie, us seniors who lives in apartment do pay property tax thru our rent ... We need that property rebate too!!!!!
Guess you are on the side of the rich landlords who will bleed us dry while they get a double tax credit thru you and our rents...
My daughter and her family had to move out of New Jersey just to make ends meet ..You are chasing senior citizens out of New Jersey where we lived and worked hard for every penny we got just to be robbed by you...
You remind me of a person during World War II who wanted only his kind living ...
You only want the rich people living in New Jersey, like yourself .. And get rid of the poor, the disables , the lower income, the old fix income people...
And Ps I am not afraid to sign my name..
I am Marion Stuart ,
If you people knew anything about real work there would be a demand for your services and you would be paid for it instead of having someone else like a union negotiate your contracts for you. Ive seen my sons homework and its not good. Let me share an example There is a hiking path in the park 3/4 of a mile long if the pond is 1/3 of the way how many mile is it to the pond. I told my son the answer was zero miles since the entire path was less than a mile and his teacher said that was incorrect. A second question was if you had four melons and the largest one was 7/8 of a pound and the smallest was 1/2 the size how much does the smallest wiegh I said 7oz. Teacher marked it wrong. This can be found in Edison 5th grade text books. It was not the fist time I noticed problems with books. I have nothing against teachers but merit pay would be more realistic.
Sounds like you want somebody to blame because you can't do fractions. That's all that homework is - fractions.
Future Teacher forced to look at other state's requirements for teaching.
I must agree with DUHHH what did you expect, you voted him in. I am saddened by what he is doing, who is cuts mostly affect, and how he is poising himself for a fabulous Fox News national career on our backs. The one thing I've always loved about this place as a transplant was the progressive politic. It was so much better than living in a ridiculous red state.
I hope the elected officials hear the outcry and realize they are all gonna lose their seats if they support Christie. BTW how did his parents think naming his chris christie was a good idea. I've always wondered.
I didn't vote for Christie...and I did vote!
I am not understanding what he is doing, or even why. What don't understand his policies. It is said that he is making these cuts in the way that he is. I would like him to explain his position and how he feels his drastic actions are going to be a benefit to NJ?
Governor Christie is toxic for the working middle class and uniform workers. He must be impeached by strong, unified unions and working people! He's hurting all of us with the exception of his wealthy and "connected" friends! Christie must go!!!
Governor Christie has drastically cut State aid to municipalities whereby causing tax increases and salary reductions/freezes for those of us that are working hard to maintain what we already have. Those of us in the public sector gave up higher salaries for the better benefits of public sector employment. Now we are facing lower salaries and increased cost for those benefits. I myself am seeing a 5K + reduction in salary this year. I will have to work more to make that up but with already working 4 jobs trying to make ends meet will be very difficult. Yes the private sector is seeing no raises. However, the public sector employees are being targeted as the cause for the State's financial mess. We are not the cause! We are the front line that interacts with everyday JQ public to provide a service that the State has always required or requested. Now this service is the target of ridicule and being blamed for everything. Sometimes this may be true but to paint the broad stroke of the brush across ALL public employees is a huge slap in the face and kick in the butt to those of us that are just doing our jobs. How can someone claim that a firefighter, teacher, or other government worker gets paid too much to provide a service or protect the public that has put Christie in office? And let's not forget the 2M he allowed to be spent of OUR tax dollars to staff his office! Start at the top and work done. I would think that the savings from the top-level executives at the State would permit the financial crisis to be "fixed" without hurting us working middle class grunts! My union members have already agreed to cut backs in our salaries.
November is coming and when OUR collective voices will be heard. Legislative members, we're watching you very closely. Remember that the people put you into office and we can take you out of it too. Fix the real problem not by blaming those of us that are working our butts off to serve your public!!!!
Jack Daniels, Local 3697 President
Gov. Christie, what are you doing to sacrifice for the State of NJ? Do you have to skip meals, or budget to the penny to pay your car insurance, mortgage or rent? This is a beautiful State, it has everything from the Ocean and beaches to large Lakes and flat lands to mountains, cities and farms, a diversity of people and cultures. Why are you giving people no choice but to move out? Doesn't make sense... less people, less revenue. Why don't you cut your pay and all of the top officials of this state making more and doing nothing to improve the lives that live here.
Duhhhh. Well you all get exactly what you voted for!
Why the hell did all these concerned people allow this jerk to get elected? Seems to me that the voters as just as much to blame as the Christie is. Maybe they are even more to blame.
Prior to election - Governor Christie wrote a letter saying how he supports the teachers and would not do anything to hurt the educational system of New Jersey. There were a lot of points made in the letter and now that he has taken office - he has actively went the opposite direction. This was the most obvious example of political promises that were stated only to get elected. So this is one instance that people do not get what they voted for. Governor Christie states that if teachers were really dedicated they would accept these cuts - well teachers and people in the education system have to feed their families. For that matter - are all employees in all industries dedicated enough to take cuts in their pay. Also in other industries if you have a college degree or a graduate degree - it is expected that you would be able to make a decent living. It seems teachers are not allowed to feel that they have worked towards degrees and should not be compensated for it. Dedicated teachers work long and hard - many hours after the students leave the classroom. Teachers are required to continue their own education as a requirement for their job. How many other positions in the private sector require the employee to earn additional credit even after they have earned a Masters Degree. Also a lot of people with education degrees do not get jobs right away - they work in other areas of the education field perhaps as an aide - even if they have a Bachelor or Masters Degree. People may not realize the time educators must put in before they acquire a teaching position - it is not automatic as a lot of people may think. It is just one more example where people do not respect teachers - and the impact these cuts may have on the future leaders of our state - namely our children.
you are so right he was appointed by bush need I say more Sometimes I wonder If people should have to take an Iq test to vorw
Those people who voted for you Governor Christie are getting exactly what they deserve.....job losses, service losses, higher property taxes and a Governor that just doesn't get it!
well.i dint vote for christie.i knew was no good for jrsey governor.i hope he get impeach.you can tell that his not a good polititian.governor christie do something good for the state of new jersey people.they vote for u.now they deserve something good.
Voting in any election should be a right given to those who have a reasonable amount of intelligence. Generally those between 18 amd 65. It should also be limited to those actively working.
The only individuals benefitting from Christie the Hatchet's sleazy manuevers are the wealthy and the freeloaders.
I don't think the people voted for Christie realized he would take a 90 day look and slash burn dump I thought he would look evaluate and become a strong leader. We made a BIG MISTAKE AND NOW WILL SUFFER FOR FOUR YRS.He is not real smart, he is no leader.
He was appointed by george w in his prev job What did you expect DUH
Sorry, but the reality is that NJ is almost bankrupt, the employees of the 600+ municipalities, each with their own town councils, aldermen, building department, administrators, are one of the reasons that even with high property taxes and significant income taxes the state can't support itself. No other state has as many separate municipalities with separate services. Not even california or New York. Wage cuts, job reductions, or bankruptcy of the state, take your pick
IF THEY PAYED THE BILLS AS THEY SHOULD WE WOULD NOT BEEN IN THIS MESS LIKE PEOPLE PUT MONEY IN THEIR PACKET...... SO THIS ONLY HAPPEN IN AMERICA,,,,,,, PLEASE TELL ME WHY IN NORTH DAKOTA AND INDIANA HAVE SURPLUS MONEY NOT THE REST OF THE NATION.....
THE STATE IS BROKE, NO MONEY, NOT ENOUGH TAX REVENUE TO SUPPORT ALL THE GIVEAWAY'S.
CHRISTIE IS THE ONLY GOVERNOR IN THE U.S. TRYING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS, CUT SPENDING AND SAVE THE STATE'S FUTURE
WE SHOULD ALL SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR.
in what world are u living? why did he veto the tax for the rich? maybe u are one of the people that benefit from the veto that the reason u support him
If you think I am going to stay in this state when I retire think again. He taxes everything! Alot of teachers are loosing their jobs and the students are going to be the loosers.He should walk in a teachers shoes for one week, uo at 5 out by 6am work until 3 (with students) then correct papers until 9! How many hours? more than 8 like any other worker!
You're right this idiot is on crack, reason to remain anonymous...A-H!
John Kessler
You're on Crack, aren't you? Don't you see the problem? Greed = wealth at the expense of the poor.
Having been a US Attotney why does he think he can sidestep the whole process of good faith bargaining & bully his way thru the Middle class. I guest he thinks he is above the people & above the LAW. aNOTHER republican hack Big Business & the upper class
Dan Loftus
Twp. of Washington, Nj 07676
I do not understand why you are lying. First I have yet to hear someone say you are not working, second as a former employee of the state of New Jersey, too many employees were working the system, third the state is out of money and people are leaving. Tax me some more and I will also leave the State.
GO!!!
Please do leave. Some of us are going to stay and pay our taxes and fight.
Putting people out of work in NJ is the wrong thing to do.....Governor Christie you need to drive around and look at some of the tent cities and many more that you will be creating. Look at all the sales signs on lawns and realize that the ones that actually bring the small business jobs into NJ is the middle class not the upper class, the rich ones, your friends. Those people send their jobs out of the country or most likely to NY as well. You should THANK the hard workers of NJ....haven't ever heard you say thanks for making the state work!
Obviously YOU are one that did not work hard, whos job was expendable and are now enjoying the benefits from working for the State of New Jersey. My husband works very hard and has for over 30 years. He puts in many more hours than he is required to. The furlough day was okay with us as long as other hard working people working for the State and to keep all the services going that all of us enjoy in this State kept their jobs. Governor Christie is a lier and since HE enjoyes the good life in NJ and received any services he wants including a good salary and health benefits not only from NJ but from retiring from his last State job and is able to send his children to private school...he does not care about anything else. He just wants to pay his cronies back and as far as caring about South Jersey.....I don't think he even knows we exist except for a couple of visits. Wise up .... if you were still working you would care!
I have been "involved" in the system for many years. There is too much money going to the chiefs who do nothing but sit at their desks and make decisions about issues and people they know nothing about. Let the money go the the real workers who do work for the chidren. Governor Christie is right to make budget cuts. Let's hope hemakes the right ones
If he looked at all the administation waste he would find his millions. How many high ups do you need to run a hospital get rid of them and keep the workers then you would find money to keep hospitals open.
It would be a little more tolerable if Christie stepped up an cut his salary in half to prove his concerns about NJ. No one in Government should get any raises until the State is in the black.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnn!!!
He opted out of the public plan. If all public employees did this there wouldn't be a deficient.
My husband's a 22-year veteran police sergeant, and he has already gone almost 4 years without a raise, because his contract was not settled. Thank God it was just settled, but now they're holding back his retro check, because I believe they're waiting to see what Gov. Christie will do as far as forcing the police to pay into their healthcare. You see, the new contract already calls for his police dept. to pay into that, but I think they might make them pay even more under Christie's plan. We could really use that retro money; OUR taxes keep going up, because teachers in our town will not accept a smaller raise or to pay into their benefits, so they're talking about closing 2 schools instead.
I'm angry because the governor himself will not be making any sacrifices in his own salary, nor will he cut the increases for any of the state politicians/lawmakers. If this is something he believes in, why not back it up with his own money and that of his friends in Trenton? I voted for him, and now I'm so sorry. He ran on a platform of cutting property taxes for all Jerseyans, and this is going to make mine go up even more!
He keeps saying there's not enough $$ in the police pension accounts to support what was promised to police and firefighters, but that's because 2 previous governors RAIDED it! That's not my husband's fault. They were supposed to pay it back and didn't. If they had just done everything legally, there would be no problem now. I'm sick of these lawmakers victimizing us. As soon as my husband retires, we're leaving NJ; we can't afford to live here anymore, and I hate it anyway!
I feel your pain, the Governor just cut all 34 non-profit hispanic organizations 100%. My agency alone has over 600 client 30% of them are african american 20% are cauc and the rest are hispanics. Every one is low income families. I am single parent, where will I go now? I am sick and tired of the up and downs! I'll be at that rally! fr sure!
JB
Can't make it there but you have my family's support! I will do all I can from home to support this movement!
Jessica Valiente
Belleville, NJ
Dear Gov.
your budget cuts make me sick!!!!!our furtue will end now with our children,but you hire 10 more people to work for you at 10k a year.
do you know what the STATE could do with that money!!!!!
your speeches give alot to be desired!!!!! you talk down to the people of NJ,what do you think we are morons.you have alot to learn. you have not only hurt me and the state but i have lost faith in you.you are failinf the people!!!!
Bonnie Hall save our Children!!!!!!!
Where was the CWA when Jon Corzine gave us a WAGE FREEZE and made us pay 1.5% of our salary to healthcare? And all the furlough days. Sounds like a worse deal than the teachers are being *suggested* to take (not forced to take). Oh yeah, the CWA voted to allow it. Thanks for nuttin'
From the time Governer Christy Wittman was elected, the state has been run into the debt it caries now. Each time a new govener comes in, they try to privatise state jobs. They have failed every time. The cost of work being done by state employees can not be matched by the private sector. With the state in debt as it is, will only put it in debt further. The quality of work performed by the private sector, will deminish and the public employees will have found other employment. This will cause the state to go deeper in debt due to lack of experence worker's. It is time for the employees and the public to stand up and tell state government to do the job they were elected to do, and stop B-Sing around. Tell the state powers
to cut thier own pay and the sise of thier staff. That in it self would save quite a bit of money.
I am sorry I can not attend the ralley this Saturday. The cost is over whelming as well as the drive to get there.
Emil Gamm Ret. Shop Forman
Ham. Motor Pool
Considering the state's financial situation, the Governor's cuts are very reasonable. Painful perhaps, but reasonable.
That said, I'd like to see him put an end to dual officeholding that allows a person to collect multiple pensions.
It' not going to happen. Get a grip!
It's time to petition the Supreme Court to impeach the bum!
Are you stupid or rich as soon as this moron set foot in office he said there will be no new taxes for the rich and the middle class and lower class will suffer and he means what he say's . What do you think is going to happen when he cut's down the police 'fire highway's public utilities and other needed programs for the communities of this state . It's going to be hell on wheels so everybody get prepared for the worst.I already moved out of jersey. Because when the sh.. hits the fan the only emergency responders will be crack heads in the hood.