CWA has reached an agreement with Governor Mikie Sherrill’s office to ensure State Workers will see no healthcare cost increases in 2027. After months of negotiations and multiple member mobilizations, Governor Sherill’s administration agreed that the state will cover the full premium increase in 2027 state healthcare costs—workers will see no increase in premiums, deductibles, co-pays, or any other out-of-pocket costs.

It was through member engagement and solidarity with all state worker unions that we won this agreement. CWA members stayed organized, knowledgeable, and ready to mobilize to protect healthcare quality and affordability.

““This victory right here? It belongs to the workers who put in that work all summer long—making calls, rallying the people, talking to their brothers and sisters on the job. That’s right!” said Davren Noble, a Shop Steward and Family Services Specialist I at the Department of Child Protection and Permanency (within DCF). “When we fight, we win!”

Thousands of CWA members across New Jersey came to the mass union rally in Trenton in June. Then, CWA Local 1037 members made their presence felt at the SHBC rate hearing introduction in July, and again the first week of September for SHBC plan design committee, and rate adoption meetings. Member activism is what makes our union strong, and as we begin bargaining for a new state contract, member solidarity will again be the difference in what wins us a fair contract that benefits all state workers.

CWA members will continue to pursue legislative and other avenues to reform the State Health Benefits Plan and protect workers from corporate greed that is driving the nationwide healthcare affordability crisis.