Teachers Join With Other State Workers to Protest Against Reform Bill

Nearly 130 teachers lined Stirling Road about 7 a.m. this morning, joining statewide protests against a pension and benefits reform measure being introduced this week.

"Since we can't be down in Trenton, we're showing solidarity with those down (there) —and then in about five minutes, we'll be back inside doing our jobs," Sean DiGiovanna, head of the WHREA, said.

The protests are aimed at the bill's changes to retirement benefits and provisions of current health benefits the education associations have already negotiated for in contracts.

The bill (S2937) would raise the minimum retirement age to 65, end automatic cost-of-living increases for currently retired teachers, limit hospitals available to state workers, and other provisions aimed at reducing the unfunded liability—estimated at more than $100 billion—owed by New Jersey.

Somerset County Education Association President Barbara Parker said the bill would "cost school employees thousands of dollars annually and will seriously diminish their health and post-retirement benefits," but the bill marks a rare moment of political bipartisanship, with Gov. Chris Christie, Senate President (and sponsor) Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester) and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex).

While not explicit addressing the bill's provisions, the Watchung Hills protestors focued their ire on the bill's attack on their collective bargaining rights, brandishing signs saying "No Wisconsin in New Jersey" and "We (heart) Collective Bargaining."

"The main thing we're objecting to is the imposition of benefits without collective bargaining," Dr. DiGiovanna said. "We saw what happened in Wisconsin and don't want that to happen here."

He added the union has had an excellent relationship with the school board, and that current negotiations for a new contract are working towards an agreeable contract.