Robertson, Dare express disappointment in unnecessary delay
On Thursday, May 22, S2078/A1675, known to most NJEA members as the Break in Service Bill, failed to pass through the state legislature, even though it had previously garnered support from both chambers of the Statehouse.
Under current law, membership in the pension system ceases if an employee has a break in service of more than two years. This includes individuals who take extended leaves to raise children or care for family members in need. Upon their return, they are automatically placed into Tier 5, even if they had previously earned many years of credit in a higher tier. This is a severe pension reduction, a punishment for prioritizing family for a relatively short period of time in the middle of their public service careers. The burden of this penalty falls most heavily on women, who make up the large majority of public school employees and are more likely to take extended leaves to care for children or other family members. The Break in Service Bill would address this loophole.
NJEA Secretary-Treasurer Petal Robertson and Government Relations Committee Chair Tina Dare, responded to the day’s events with disappointment. Dare was recently elected as NJEA’s next secretary-treasurer. Both Robertson and Dare have spearheaded the union’s effort to see this bill signed into law.
“Like all working people, educators deserve the dignity of economic security,” said Robertson. “The overwhelming majority of educators in our public schools are women, and today’s events represent the latest example of how gender inequality remains rampant in the profession. Teachers and educational support professionals are among our state’s hardest-working, most dedicated professionals. They teach our kids math and science, help young people learn to read and write, and, leading with compassion, ensure children feel safe and included at school. Despite their tireless work ethic, we see the Legislature pile unnecessary financial burdens on the women and men working in our schools. We expect the lawmakers in Trenton to treat educators with respect and transparency, and this bill will, when passed, be an important step in that direction.
“Unfortunately, that’s not happening right now,” continued Robertson, expressing her discontent with the day’s events. “This bill has stalled without explanation. The Break in Service Bill is a commonsense solution with minimal cost implications. I have to wonder if this hold-up would occur if this bill stood to help as many men as it did women.”
“What’s worse is that the bill has previously passed unanimously in both the Assembly and Senate,” said Dare. “Instead of moving to Gov. Murphy’s desk to become law and help those working families, politicians are putting the special interests of a few above the many and, in doing so, are leaving working families in a state of uncertainty. Let me be clear: lawmakers understand that this bill will mostly impact women educators because, in most cases, women take on the role of caretakers for their families in times of need. As it stands now, too many women are being punished and left with the impossible choice of having to choose their families or careers. No one should be penalized for choosing to care for a loved one. It’s time for a change, and we look forward to the day when this bill becomes law.”
“Our political leaders have a real chance to help our state take a critical step forward toward gender equity,” continued Dare. “We are deeply disappointed that this bill’s passage has been delayed, even after the advocates for the bill have taken all the necessary steps to move it forward. Here in New Jersey, we expect more from a Legislature that values equal pay for equal work.”
“We pride ourselves on working with legislative leaders to solve complex problems while keeping the state’s costs down,” concluded Robertson. “The Break in Service Bill is a textbook example of this. There should be no hesitation around passing this bill.”
“This bill would correct and close a devastating loophole and, in doing so, help countless women and their families. We’re calling on Trenton to prioritize gender equity and to pass the Break in Service Bill during their next session,” concluded Dare.