Search News
For the Media
For media inquiries, call CWA Communications at 202-434-1168 or email comms@cwa-union.org. To read about CWA Members, Leadership or Industries, visit our About page.
New Jersey State Workers Rally Against Rollbacks
Thousands of CWA-represented state employees in New Jersey took to the streets last week to fight against cuts in health care benefits and other rollbacks the state wants to help balance its ailing budget.
The contract for CWA's 35,000 state workers expires June 30. Bargaining is underway, with the state pushing for a lengthy wage freeze and major cuts in benefits, including hikes in workers' contributions to the pension plan and their share of health care costs.
"We know that New Jersey faces a real budget crisis. But this crisis can't be solved on our backs," CWA District 1 Vice President Larry Mancino told the New Jersey media. "We will not allow the living standards of our membership to be cut, and we need to see real improvements over the term of this contract."
The union is calling for a fair annual wage increase, additional steps on the wage scale and a shift differential, as well as no layoffs and no more privatizing of state services. It is fighting to protect health care, pension benefits and to improve the grievance and performance evaluation system, among other changes.
CWA members, represented by Locals 1031, 1032, 1033, 1034, 1037, 1039 and 1040, turned out in force at state offices in communities throughout New Jersey during the lunch hour May 7 to rally for a fair contract.
As part of a broad coalition of labor, social justice groups, teachers and even some of the very millionaires who would benefit from a tax cut, the New Jersey members are also rallying and lobbying for a temporary tax increase on the rich. The Fair Tax Campaign aims to stop the hemorrhaging of state, local and school budgets by increasing revenue.
The contract for CWA's 35,000 state workers expires June 30. Bargaining is underway, with the state pushing for a lengthy wage freeze and major cuts in benefits, including hikes in workers' contributions to the pension plan and their share of health care costs.
"We know that New Jersey faces a real budget crisis. But this crisis can't be solved on our backs," CWA District 1 Vice President Larry Mancino told the New Jersey media. "We will not allow the living standards of our membership to be cut, and we need to see real improvements over the term of this contract."
The union is calling for a fair annual wage increase, additional steps on the wage scale and a shift differential, as well as no layoffs and no more privatizing of state services. It is fighting to protect health care, pension benefits and to improve the grievance and performance evaluation system, among other changes.
CWA members, represented by Locals 1031, 1032, 1033, 1034, 1037, 1039 and 1040, turned out in force at state offices in communities throughout New Jersey during the lunch hour May 7 to rally for a fair contract.
As part of a broad coalition of labor, social justice groups, teachers and even some of the very millionaires who would benefit from a tax cut, the New Jersey members are also rallying and lobbying for a temporary tax increase on the rich. The Fair Tax Campaign aims to stop the hemorrhaging of state, local and school budgets by increasing revenue.