NJ BUILDING TRADES PRESIDENT CRITICIZES CWA LEADER FOR MISREPRESENTING PATH TO PROGRESS EFFORT

Today Senate President Sweeney introduced a sweeping bill package aimed at slashing the high cost of government in New Jersey originating from the recent Path to Progress report. In response to the continued attacks by New Jersey public work leaders, particularly the leader of CWA, Hetty Rosenstein, the President of the New Jersey Building and Construction Trades Council, William Mullen, released the following statement.

“The head of the CWA is doing a disservice to her own union members and to working people in New Jersey with her false characterizations of the reforms needed to restore financial responsibility to public finances. Her rhetoric is sensational and lacking facts, accuracy and credibility. The health care reforms will continue to provide Gold-level benefits for public employees and the pension reforms will be better for workers and the taxpayers. Public employees will pay less for health care coverage and the pension reforms will keep employee contributions in the pension system while reducing long-term debt. It keeps the promise to current workers because the changes apply only to new hires and non-vested employees with less than five years of service in those plans. These are cost saving reforms that are best for everyone, including the taxpayers who pay the bills.”