TO: All CWA Local 1081 Members
FROM: David H. Weiner, President
DATE: June 10, 2011
SUBJECT: Keep Calling Your Legislators!
Governor Christie and Senate President Sweeney want to pass legislation changing your pension and health benefits contributions so that they cost you up to 10% of your salary! Keep calling your legislators, every day, and tell them to just say no to this legislation.
DO YOU WANT TO PAY 5% – 10% MORE OF YOUR INCOME FOR A WORSE HEALTHCARE PLAN AND A SMALLER PENSION?
NO? THEN CALL YOU LEGISLATORS TODAY.
The reported Sweeney-Christie plan has workers paying between 14% and 35% of healthcare premiums in a deal that will undermine collective bargaining and is terrible healthcare policy. That means that if you currently earn $50,000 a year, and now pay $750 for family coverage, you will pay approximately $2,500 more a year – a 5% pay cut. If you earn $90,000 a year and you currently pay $1350 for family healthcare, you will pay something closer to $7500 a year for family coverage, a 6.5% cut in pay.
Add to that a 1 – 2% increase in pension contribution and no matter what income you are in – this plan is unaffordable.
Worse yet – it destroys collective bargaining and union power at a time when we need our elected allies to stand with us and protect our rights.
Call 888-875-6558 and put your zip code in and you will be patched through to your Legislator. If your zip code has more than one legislative district you will be patched through to a legislative desk to give you help. Or, if you know who your legislators are, refer to the list on the back of this leaflet.
We need you to call your State Senator and your two Assembly members TODAY. THIS CAN NOT WAIT. TELL THEM:
“The Sweeney-Christie healthcare plan destroys collective bargaining and will cost my family 5-8% of our income. My union is willing to negotiate an affordable healthcare plan that will save the State of New Jersey hundreds of millions of dollars. (Are you) (Is Senator/Assemblyman/woman _________) going to stand with us or will s/he be supporting this terrible healthcare plan?