CWA Response to Christie's State of the State Address

Christie Puts Budget Burden on Middle Class and Public Workers While Wealthy Get Billions in Tax Breaks.

WOODBRIDGE, NJ – New Jersey’s largest union representing public workers responded today to Gov. Christie’s State of the State address. Hetty Rosenstein, state director for the Communications Workers of America, said:

“Governor Christie failed again today to put forward a real plan to turn New Jersey’s economy around. Instead, he called for more of the same: devastating cuts in critical services like health care, transportation and education, and gutting middle-class pensions while continuing huge tax breaks for the wealthy. The reality is that cutting the pensions and benefits of state workers won’t produce a single new job for New Jersey.

“Make no mistake -- CWA members understand that our state is in dire financial straits. State workers have stepped up and made $450 million in wage and benefit sacrifices over the last three years while struggling to continue to provide essential services with a relentlessly shrinking workforce

“We will continue to look for ways to save taxpayer money and make government more efficient. But in a crisis of this magnitude, simple fairness demands that everyone in New Jersey tighten their belts—starting at the top, with New Jersey millionaires, who, thanks to Gov. Christie and the extension of the Bush tax cuts, will pay $38,000 less in taxes this year -- over $100 a day.

“We look forward to working with state leaders to get through this crisis together, but Gov. Christie is putting the entire burden on middle class workers and taxpayers—with drastic cuts in services and jobs. We need a better plan.”

The Communications Workers of America (AFL-CIO) represents more than 70,000 working families in New Jersey, including more than 40,000 state workers, 15,000 county and municipal workers, and thousands of workers in the telecommunications and direct care industries.