State Workers in New Jersey Win Agreement to Defray Massive Healthcare Premium Hikes, Fight Continues for Local Government Workers

CWA public workers in New Jersey mobilized to win an agreement with the state to dramatically reduce the impact of a recent proposal to increase the workers’ healthcare premiums for state workers. The victory for the state workers is the result of the incredible mobilization the public workers in the state engaged in and the solidarity they built. Last week, the CWA public workers joined hundreds of other public sector union members to rally at the State House in protest against the proposed increases to their healthcare premiums. The members and their supporters also made phone calls to the Governor expressing their concern about the proposal. The workers, who faithfully served the community during the pandemic while being exposed to COVID-19, voiced their anger and frustration that the state they had put so much on the line for was poised to hike up the cost of their health insurance.

“State, county, and municipal workers were called upon to continue working, often putting ourselves at risk to ensure we continued to serve our communities with critical services and now it's time for the state to help those who took the risks to continue serving our communities,” said Katwanna Noble, a member of CWA Local 1037 and an employee at the New Jersey’s Division of Youth and Family Services.

The workers were joined by supporters and the mayor of Trenton, N.J., Reed Gusciora, who reminded the crowd, “Without the unions, without the workers, the city and the state would be shut down.”

Unfortunately, the struggle against massive premium hikes for local government workers continues. CWAers in New Jersey will not rest until a solution is also found for local government workers.

CWA public workers in New Jersey mobilized to win an agreement with the state to reduce the impact of a recent proposal to increase their healthcare premiums, including joining hundreds of other public sector union members to rally at the State House in protest of the proposal.