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Protect Collective Bargaining

by: Assemblywoman Connie Wagner

Wed Jun 15, 2011 at 07:21:11 PM EDT

Citing a strong belief in the principal of collective bargaining and protecting workers' rights, Bergen County Assembly members Valerie Vainieri Huttle(D- 37), Gordon Johnson(D- 37), Joan Voss(D- 38) and Connie Wagner(D-38) released the following joint statement:

"We were dismayed to learn that this Monday the Assembly Budget Committee will be hearing a bill which will forever alter the way of life of NJ's low-income and middle class workers."

"Through our careers as elected officials we have stood up for those that cannot fight for themselves and for the constituents we represent. This is one of those times where we will stand together to protect our low-income and middle class families from a burden that should not be placed on their backs."

Assemblywoman Connie Wagner :: Protect Collective Bargaining

"We believe that we must find a way to lower health costs before we pass the buck to workers that cannot afford to pay more. We also believe that to save the pension systems of these hard working New Jerseyans changes must be made. It is not our belief, however, that these two issues should be dealt with in the same piece of legislation and we are calling on leadership to seperate them into two stand alone bills."

"Our Democratic Party principles are to stand with the working families that unions represent. Public workers, teachers, police officers, firefighters and the many other employees who dedicate themselves to our state, deserve a seat at the bargaining table to decide their own fate. These people are New Jersey. We must continue to preserve their fundamental right to collectively bargain."

"With respect to our colleagues, we will not support this legislation."

Tags: Connie Wagner, Joan Voss, Gordon Johnson, Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Bergen County, Bergen County Assembly Democrats, collective bargaining, (All Tags)

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Protect Collective Bargaining | 10 comments

Thank you Assembly woman (0.00 / 0)

You, and your colleagues, are true Democrats.

by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Thu Jun 16, 2011 at 00:21:19 AM UTC

by: you @ soon

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Misinformed (1.00 / 1)

First of all she states the Bill "will forever alter the way of life" for workers.

Did she read the Bill? It has a sunshine clause.

Second ,does she know that prior to 2006 there was NEVER any " collective bargaining" regarding heath care because ALL government workers got health care for free.

Does she also understand that in 2006 CWA workers agreed to pay for health care while other unions,the NJEA and PBA, made side deals with Corzine that allowed their members to not pay!

With " ALL DUE RESPECT " you 4 are wrong.

by: firstamend07 @ Thu Jun 16, 2011 at 00:40:45 AM UTC

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You are lying (0.00 / 0)

Sunshine clause? Yeah, right. So did the Bush tax cuts.

Health benefits were a part of collective bargaining. That for a period of time they didn't pay, doesn't mean it wasn't figured in in salary raises, etc.

It was not free until 2006. Starting in the Whitman administration workers who didn't choose the preferred plan had to pay.

by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Thu Jun 16, 2011 at 01:07:37 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Sunshine Colauses are BS. (0.00 / 0)

Your fantasy arguments are laughable.
Because there was no "Cost" doesn't mean it wasn't negotiated.
That is a ridiculous statement and another clue into your level of ignorant rhetoric.

If we don't stand together, we fall alone
That didn't last long.

by: Couch Potato Politics @ Thu Jun 16, 2011 at 01:21:20 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Read this and weep! (0.00 / 1)

TRENTON - Gov. Chris Christie and all four legislative leaders have announced a hard-fought deal to overhaul pension and health benefits for New Jersey's public employees.

The top lawmakers include Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex), Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. (R-Union) and Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Morris).

Ok , NEXT TOPIC! LET US AGREE TO ARGUE FOR SOMETHING WORTHWHILE LIKE SENATOR WEINBERGS WOMANS HEALTH PLAN BILL.

by: firstamend07 @ Thu Jun 16, 2011 at 01:14:25 AM UTC

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Weep is right (0.00 / 0)

There's nothing new here. Except Christie made public what he was saying in private. If Sweeney and Oliver can't get a majority of their caucus to support this, they should do the honorable thing and resign.

There will be no moving on from this. The state Democratic party will have to look elsewhere for financial support, leg work, and even votes from public worker unions and tens of thousands of public workers.

by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Thu Jun 16, 2011 at 01:21:19 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

How about the porohibition of Dr. Choice (0.00 / 0)

The priviso dictating that the ability to use the proposed insurance SCHEME out of New Jersey will be restricted to "Only when no option is available in New Jersey" is just another proof that this bill was designed SPECIFICALLY to benefit George Norcross III.

Beyond the theft of collective bargaining rights, we can now expect to be FORCED to seek ALL medical care (Except where we can prove there is no providor in the ENTIRE state of NJ we'd prefer) ONLY in New Jersey.

This bill is a nightmare both in intent and design and it MUST be killed.

You're ridiculous defense of this piece of legislative garbage is pathetic and your pandering to your Lord Sweeney and Norcross is nauseating.

If we don't stand together, we fall alone
That didn't last long.

by: Couch Potato Politics @ Thu Jun 16, 2011 at 01:28:36 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

One stand alone bill (4.00 / 1)

Thank you Assemblywoman Connie Wagner. You are a true democrat. However, there should be only one bill dealing with pension. Health care should be collectively bargained for, as it has always been, since State workers have been represented by a Union.

I hope you have the strength to stop this nonsense.

by: theman @ Thu Jun 16, 2011 at 01:21:07 AM UTC

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Thanks to the many REAL Democrats (4.00 / 1)

During this struggle, much has been said about Democratic Party betrayal - and there has been a betrayal.

But we need to recognize the MAJORITY of Democrats who have stood with us - like Connie Wagner, Joe Cryan, Nelson Albano, Tom Giblin, Pat Deignan, Annette Quijano, Ron Rice, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and so many more.

Thank you True Democrats. Thank you.

by: Hetty Rosenstein @ Sat Jun 18, 2011 at 11:38:56 AM UTC

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Protect Collective Bargaining | 10 comments