Dear CWA Member,

Here we go again.

Having failed to come up with real solutions to the state's long-term fiscal problems, irresponsible public officials are trying once again to score cheap political points by making New Jersey's public workers into scapegoats.

Governor Corzine and the New Jersey legislative leadership are reportedly nearing an agreement on a 2008 budget deal. Even though we negotiated responsibly last year over pensions and health care benefits, a package of six bills has been introduced that will cut the benefits of future employees. Among other things, these bills would:

Change the calculation of Average Final Compensation for pension purposes from the final three years of salary to final five years of salary for future employees. This represents a 3% cut in the pensions of future workers.

Prohibit future part-time state and local government workers from pension coverage. Part-time workers are defined as anyone working under 35 hours per week.

Requires that new employees, appointees and elected officials work 35 or more hours per week to be eligible for health care coverage.

Requires members of either the Public Worker or Teacher's pension system who hold more than one job to designate one position as the basis for membership.

CWA strenuously opposes these bills. It doesn't matter that these are changes for new workers. We already negotiated our contract. What will stop them from coming after current workers next? Either you believe in the sanctity of the union contract and collective bargaining or you don't. A deal is a deal.

We need your help. Join the fight to stop this attack on our benefits. There are better ways to solve our state's budget problems, such as raising taxes on the wealthiest New Jerseyans and closing corporate tax loopholes. These changes would go a long way towards really solving the state's fiscal problems without cutting services, jobs and violating our contract.

Go to our website, www.cwanj.org, right now and:

• Write to  your State Senators and Assemblymembers, urging them to respect the collective bargaining process and to reject the proposed package of bills. 
  
• Call Governor Corzine at 866-288-1495 and tell him to keep his word.
  
• Call 866-288-1495 and you will be patched through to your legislator. Tell them that you are counting on them to oppose the Senate and Assembly bills that will break the contract.

Then, contact your local for more information about what you can do.

Together we can protect our jobs, our families, and our future!

In solidarity,

Chris Shelton
Vice President, CWA District One