NJ Heath Insurance Hike Spurs Protest In Newark (Videos, Photos)

NEWARK, NJ — One of the largest labor unions in New Jersey spearheaded a rally and march in Newark on Thursday to protest a massive hike to state health care insurance rates.

Based on a vote by the State Health Benefits Commission in September, some municipal governments in New Jersey will see an estimated 23 percent health insurance rate increase for their workers, while state employees will see about a 21 percent hike. And that means hardworking essential employees and overtaxed homeowners will be forced to pick up the slack, advocates say.

On Thursday, community leaders and residents rallied across New Jersey to protest the recent health care insurance hikes that are expected to put the hurt on local public workers and property owners alike.

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) was among them, holding a series of lunchtime rallies throughout New Jersey on Thursday, including a protest on University Avenue in Newark.

According to a statement from the CWA, the massive jump in premiums is going to slam county, municipal and school budgets. But it will also mean belt-tightening for the public employees who were praised as “heroes” during the coronavirus pandemic, the union said:

“Elected officials, labor leaders, workers and taxpayers are all joining together to highlight how these egregious health care premium hikes are completely unfair to the local government and county workers who showed up on the job throughout the COVID pandemic. They risked both their health and their family’s safety to provide vital services to the community. With the high cost of inflation and gas prices, these workers can’t afford a health care premium hike over 20%.”

Rally participants urged Gov. Phil Murphy and state Legislative leaders to provide $330 million needed to give “meaningful relief” to taxpayers, local and county governments and workers.

Other CWA rallies were held in Rochelle Park, Toms River and West New York.

The rally in Newark wasn’t the only one that took place in Essex County on Thursday. In nearby South Orange, town officials and union leaders gathered at a separate rally to protest the hikes, with one labor leader declaring that “Trenton cannot keep trying to get blood from a stone.” Read More: Rallies, Outrage In Essex County Over NJ Health Care Hikes

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who released a statement blasting the rate increases earlier this month, said that New Jersey’s largest city is now is facing “astronomical” health insurance rate hikes for its city employees – which may end up getting passed on to local taxpayers. Read More: Newark Faces 'Astronomical' Health Insurance Hikes For City Workers

“At a time when health insurance companies are making record profits, plans to increase health care costs for New Jersey public employees are a betrayal of thousands of hardworking members of Newark’s municipal family, who are already being harshly impacted by rising costs of living,” Baraka said.

Other elected officials in Essex County who have spoken out against the insurance hikes include Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. and State Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin.

• See related article: NJ Insurance Hikes Cause Grumbling In Essex County About Tax Impacts

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