TO: All CWA Local 1081 Members
FROM: David H. Weiner, President
DATE: February 21, 2010
SUBJECT: Pensions, Property Taxes and Public Workers:
Getting Beyond the Rhetoric
Attached, please find a PowerPoint presentation prepared by CWA District One providing the proper particulars about New Jersey’s public workers and their pension and health benefits.
On February 11, 2010 Governor Chris Christie addressed a joint session of the Legislature and announced he is making billions of dollars in cuts to state services and to schools. While urging the Legislature to pass legislation that cuts pensions and health benefits for all of New Jersey’s public workers, state, county and municipal, Governor Christie gave ludicrous examples of high wage individuals getting pensions that far exceed those of our members.
CWA assiduously asserts we did not cause the State Budget crisis. Our benefits are not outlandish or unsustainable. Our Union is right now calling and meeting with legislators and editorial boards with the actual information and misinformation being put out by Senator Sweeney and Governor Christie. We are reviewing the specific information of the ½ billion in cuts to state and local government programs. We believe these cuts will be devastating to services CWA members provide. As soon as we have it we will immediately get information to our shop stewards, send it to our members via email and post it on our website at cwa1081.com.
The following steps are what the members of CWA Local 1081 should take:
- Call your State Assemblyperson and State Senator. Look at the website, www.cwanj.org, for the talking points against the bills. If you don’t have the phone numbers for your Assemblypersons and Senator, you can find them at www.congress.org.
- Continue to support CWA Local 1081’s tireless efforts to obtain a fair contract.
- Participate in all activities requested by your shop stewards and officers.