N.J. teachers union blasts 'dishonest' Christie, vows no negotiation on pension

[Omaha Steve]

Source: NJ.com

By Claude Brodesser-Akner

TRENTON — The head of the New Jersey Education Association teachers union on Monday blasted Gov. Chris Christie's rejection of a proposal to spread state public employee pension payments out over several years, and vowed the union will not bow to cuts demanded by the governor.

"We have no intention of negotiating anything with this governor," said Wendell Steinauer, president of the NJEA.

"He's dishonest, unreliable and hopelessly incapable of good-faith negotiations. He's consistently lied about his pension funding intentions, and he's yet to live up to the promises he's already made. The ball is in his court to fund the pensions according to the law he signed. We will not negotiate against ourselves. We will not concede one inch to this governor."

Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson) is advancing a plan that would give the state five years to make the full contribution suggested by actuaries to keep the public employee pension plan solvent, sources told NJ Advance Media last week. The plan would not undertake the top-down refitting of pension and health benefits being sought by the governor.

FULL story at link.



Gov. Chris Christie is pictured as he vetoed N.J. budget tax hikes and made $1.6 billion in cuts from the 2016 Democratic budget in Trenton, NJ on 6/26/15. (Photo by Adya Beasley | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)


Read more: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/07/nj_teachers_union_blasts_christie_vows_not_to_nego.html

[randys1]

1. It is no coincidence that Christie, Rick Scott, Scott Walker, Brownback, HATE working people

and education and educators.

These republicans want to harm working people and they dont try to hide this.

[StarzGuy]

2. Such hatred of public employee's is not restricted to New Jersey

I worked in the public school system in Arizona for over 25 years. All I can say is that the republicans in this state also hate public employee's especially teachers. They are doing the same here too with the budget. They refuse to fully fund K-12 education all the while cutting business and personal income and other taxes. Sad, sad, sad state of affairs in this country right now.

[randys1]

3. I tried to list a few of the righty governors but EVERYWHERE a righty has power, HATRED

of working people exists

And not just public employees.

They hate you if you are part of any union, for instance.

[wolfie001]

4. This is the legacy of Ronald Reagan.

He hated Unions even though he benefited from them and was a Union leader for the Actor's Guild. He carried water for the corporate overlords and has been beatified from all corners. He should be condemned as the lying phony he was.....also, a pretty crappy actor as well.

[Salviati]

5. There's only one good thing that came from Ronald Reagan.

Ronald Reagan Jr.

[wolfie001]

6. LOL!! Couldn't agree more! nt