So the news out of Trenton is grim. State revenues will be down about $133 million this year; right now, they’re estimating a shortfall of $289 million for the next fiscal year.
And what is our governor doing?
Why, he’s signing an executive order allowing 649 contract workers – i.e., nonstate employees -- to unionize and be represented by the CWA. As Star Ledger columnist Paul Mulshine tells us, these folks are community care residential providers, who take disabled adults into their homes. Thanks to Gov. Corzine, they will now be represented by the CWA in negotiations "for the purpose of entering into a written agreement regarding reimbursement rates, payment procedures, benefits, health and safety conditions"
And what does the CWA plan to do for these folks?
"They are supposed to be paid based on market rate," said Rosenstein. "We can show what the market rate is so they're paid more."
She also told Mulshine: "It's not our goal to have them treated as state employees. But for those who don't have health care, we want them to eventually get health care whether through the state or some other source."
Corzine’s spokesman, Jim Gardner, insists that the executive order is “revenue neutral.”
Which, of course, is true now. But if the CWA is successful getting these folks a pay increase, or eventually, health care, well then, it won’t be revenue neutral in the future.
It reminds us of the time Gov. Corzine gave back that 1.5 percent payment of their pensions retirees were going to pay toward their health insurance premium.
READ ITS ENTIRETY HERE: Mar.26
READ ITS ENTIRETY HERE: Mar.26
No comments:
Post a Comment