NJEA UniServ Region 7

2007-01-11T08:05:00.000-08:00

Presidents' Huddle II

Tuesday, February 6

Quality Inn

If you are interested in attending the second session of the Presidents' Huddle, please contact the UniServ Office. Presidents and Vice Presidents are invited to attend.

2007-01-11T08:02:00.000-08:00

COORDINATED BARGAINING COUNCIL

Tuesday, January 23

Lobster Shanty

Local Presidents and all local members of your negotiating team are invited to attend this meeting. Please register with the UniServ Office if you would like to attend.

2007-01-11T07:56:00.000-08:00

BUS HUDDLE

Thursday, January 18

Quality Inn

It's time once again for our bus huddle - a training designed for transportation locals in Ocean County. If you would like to attend, please contact the UniServ Office. Preregistration is required.

2006-11-27T13:49:00.000-08:00

Back-Off Rally

Monday, December 11 at the State House in Trenton from 11 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Don't forget to contact the Lakewood Education Association at 732-905-5732 to let them know you will be attending. Buses will be available (pick-up spots to be determined) and lunch will be supplied on the bus.

2006-11-07T12:36:00.000-08:00

Organizing 101
Reminder - Don't forget to register by contacting the UniServ office for the Organizing 101 Workhop which will be held on Saturday, November 18 at the Quality Inn.

2006-10-24T08:14:00.000-07:00

Proposed Legislation by Senator Gormley

Senator William Gormley (R-Atlantic) has proposed a bill which would make drastic changes to the State Health Benefits Program. While the text of this legislation is not yet available, we know that several of its provisions are highly objectionable. The proposed legislation would mandate premium sharing by employees and would eliminate NJ Plus and the traditional components of the state plan in favor of a PPO (preferred provider option).

The bill, S-2282, would affect state, county, municipal, and school employees within the SHBP. As soon as GR and Research can analyze the full text of this bill, we will share additional information. S-2282 is not expected to be considered until such time as the current special session is concluded in mid-November.

NJEA members should contact Senator Gormley’s office via phone, letter, fax or email to let him know our strong objections to his proposed legislation.

SENATOR William Gormley, R
Hamilton Mall, Suite 108
Black Horse Pike
Mays Landing, NJ 08330
(609) 646-3500 (609) 646-6735 FAX
SenGormley@njleg.org e-mail address

2006-10-24T07:11:00.000-07:00

Organizing 101

Organizing 101 Workshop is being held on Saturday, November 18 at the Quality Inn in Toms River. If you would like to attend, please contact the UniServ office.

2006-10-11T12:04:00.000-07:00

Bargaining 101 Workshop

This workshop will be held on Thursday, November 2 at the Lobster Shanty in Toms River. Preregistration is required.

2006-10-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

ESP Living Wage Workshop

This workshop will be held on Saturday, October 22 and is open to all Educational Support Personnel. The meeting will take place at the Quality Inn in Toms River starting with registration at 8:30 a.m. Members must contact the UniServ Office if they wish to attend.

2006-10-11T11:55:00.000-07:00

Presidents' Huddle

Tuesday, October 17, 2006 at the Lobster Shanty in Toms River. Local presidents must contact the UniServ office if they would like to attend.

2006-10-11T11:42:00.000-07:00

Fall Focus - October 12, 2006

Just a reminder- The Fall Focus will be held at the Eagles Ridge Golf Club in Lakewood

2006-10-04T07:11:00.000-07:00

Sweeney/Moriarty Legislation to Diminish Public Employee Benefits

Last spring three legislators began an attack on the salary and benefits of state employees through press conferences, press statements, and on a special website. NJEA officers and staff indicated our displeasure over these actions. The three legislators repeatedly assured us (as well as police and fire representatives) that these actions were not directed at our members. They would "never do anything to harm our members" they said. NJEA, nevertheless, told them that we object to their anti-public employee actions and that we support our fellow public employees who work for the state.

As you know, Senator Steve Sweeney and Assemblyman Paul Moriarity have recently proposed a package of bills that, upon review, are not confined in scope to state workers. NJEA has sent a letter to Senator Sweeney raising our objections and questioning his actions which contradict his words over the last year. Up until now, we have held off in launching a campaign regarding Senator Sweeney. This was done, in part, because he has been one of labor’s staunchest supporters up until his turnabout last spring. He supported the legislation to end contract imposition and was the prime sponsor of legislation to restore the doctrine of "presumption of arbitrability." Assemblyman Paul Moriarity, on the other hand, has done absolutely nothing to support the work of hard working public employees including NJEA members.

In light of their sponsorship of this recent package of bills, we feel it is time to make their phones ring, their faxes hop and their emails overflow. Among the changes that their legislation would make are as follows:

Raise the age for full pension benefits in TPAF and PERS from age 55 to 60 – S-2036 (Sweeney/Gormley)/A-3498 (Moriarty); A-3475 (O’Toole; McHose)
Raise work week for newly hired full-time workers in state and local government (excludes teachers but would affect ESP members) to 40 hours – S-2170 (Sweeney)/A-3495 (Moriarty)
Reduce statutorily required holidays for state and local governments from 13 to 10 days – S-2171 (Sweeney)/A-3496 (Moriarty)
Preclude on a prospective basis accumulation of unused sick and vacation leaves for state and local government employees – S-2172 (Sweeney)/A-3497 (Moriarty)
Change employer obligation to pay 100% of employee coverage in SHBP to no more than 90% -- S-2173 (Sweeney)/A-3499 (Moriarty)
Provide that the state would pay only 90% of SHBP premiums for future state and local government retirees -- S-2174 (Sweeney)/A-3504 (Moriarty)
Eliminate duplicate health coverage for public employees who are both employed by state and local governments – S-2175 (Sweeney)/A-3503 (Moriarty)

NJEA does not differentiate between new and veteran employees. We are 196,000 members strong and we speak on behalf of all our members. We are asking that you either call, fax, mail, or email Senator Stephen Sweeney or Assemblyman Paul Moriarty and tell them that we are against their legislation and we are asking them to withdraw the bills that are directly affecting public employees who work in education. When speaking to these legislators please remember to speak specifically about changes to health benefits and pensions and do not allow them to divert the conversation by saying that these bills are only directed to future employees.
We did not create this problem; therefore, we should not be responsible to bare the burden to pay the cost. We gave enough. Our future employees should not inherit the bill for the state’s fiscal irresponsibility. Be forceful, be passionate, be substantive without engaging in personal attacks and threats which tend to be counter-productive and serve to undermine our cause rather than advance it.

SENATOR Stephen Sweeney, D
Kingsway Commons
935 Kings Hwy., Suite 400
Thorofare 08086
856-251-9801 856-251-9752 FAX
SenSweeney@njleg.org e-mail address

ASSEMBLYMAN Paul Moriarty, D
129 Johnson Road, Suite 1
Turnersville 08012
856-232-6700 856-232-6844 FAX
AsmMoriarty@njleg.org e-mail address

2006-10-02T12:16:00.000-07:00

Mark Your Calendars!

October 12 Fall Focus at Eagle Ridge Golf Club, Lakewood 5pm

October 14 Jim George Collective Bargaining Summit at Marriott, Trenton 8:00 am register

October 17 President's Huddle at Lobster Shanty, Toms River 5pm

October 17 Treasurer's Training at Region 7 Office, Toms River 4pm

October 22 ESP Breakfast at Quality Inn, Toms River 8:30 am registration

November 2 Bargaining 101 (Session 1) at Quality Inn, Toms River 4pm

For more information please contact Region 7 at (732)349-0280

2006-10-02T08:11:00.000-07:00

Pension and Benefits Websites

NJEA and local leaders from Ocean County have been working through the summer to protect your pension and benefits. As the school year begins, the legislature has been holding hearings on pensions, benefits, school funding, and school district consolidation.

Click the link to to the left, titled New Jersey Legislature, to listen to the testimony. You will find President Joyce Powell and other NJEA officials representing your interests during these hearings.

Don't hesitate to share this information with your members...Once in the website, find the Public School Funding Reform located to the right under the "Joint" column. Click the "View" icon to observe the hearings that took place on September 5, 2006.You may also find the link NJ League of Municipalities a helpful and informative website.