New Jersey union taking proactive approach to benefit reform
With states throughout the country facing significant budget gaps due in part to public employee benefit packages, one New Jersey union is taking a proactive approach to reform. NJ Today reports that its state's chapter of the AFL-CIO will work with lawmakers in the Garden State to phase in a plan that will lead to increased contributions on behalf of unionized workers.
The news source reports that the plan calls for a seven-year roll out mandating that workers contribute up to 30 percent of the costs of their health benefits. Accordingly, lower-income workers would pay a smaller amount, while local governments and school districts will be "required" to issue more choices to workers according to family status, age and level of benefits.
"We cannot continue with Band-Aid measures for issues that deserve real solutions. It is time for action, not sound bites and meaningless political rhetoric that resolve nothing. Government must be run like a business, and this reform package is a major step in that direction," Stephen M. Sweeney, state Senate president of the New Jersey legislature, told the publication.
While the new plan would not apply to more than 100,000 retired public employees, the bill aims to cut into the $66 billion budget deficit faced by New Jersey.
The news source reports that the plan calls for a seven-year roll out mandating that workers contribute up to 30 percent of the costs of their health benefits. Accordingly, lower-income workers would pay a smaller amount, while local governments and school districts will be "required" to issue more choices to workers according to family status, age and level of benefits.
"We cannot continue with Band-Aid measures for issues that deserve real solutions. It is time for action, not sound bites and meaningless political rhetoric that resolve nothing. Government must be run like a business, and this reform package is a major step in that direction," Stephen M. Sweeney, state Senate president of the New Jersey legislature, told the publication.
While the new plan would not apply to more than 100,000 retired public employees, the bill aims to cut into the $66 billion budget deficit faced by New Jersey.
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