Gov. Christie’s attack on NJEA members is entering a new, dangerous phase.
As if the one-two punch of his $1.4 billion in cuts to state education spending and the recently enacted 2% cap on local school revenues aren’t enough, he’s now pushing for passage of his “toolkit” of bills that threatens to gut our collective bargaining rights.
Among other things, the “toolkit” would:
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Give Executive County Superintendents expanded powers, including final approval of all local contracts;
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Once again allow boards to impose their “last, best offer” at the end of fact-finding;
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Cap all fact-finder awards at 2%; and
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Impose a tight, hard 2% cap on labor costs – which is much more restrictive than the 2% cap on school budget revenues.
To see how the cap on labor costs would impact a hypothetical local association, click on this flyer and share it with your colleagues.
“This toolkit would artificially limit salaries and benefits for school and public employees to levels well below the rate of inflation, and well below the rate of growth in private sector compensation,” said NJEA President Barbara Keshishian.
“Gov. Christie claims the toolkit is necessary to keep property tax growth under control, but refuses to acknowledge that his deep cuts in state aid to schools and municipalities put pressure on local taxpayers in the first place,” she added.
The “toolkit” may be up for a vote in the Legislature in the next few weeks.
Stay tuned, and check njea.org regularly for updates and information on how to urge your legislators to oppose these bills, which will harm our students and a public school system that is among the very best in the nation.