Colleagues,
Chapter 78 and Governor Chris Christie ate your raise!!
Tired of paying too much for your health benefits? Rising pension rates making it seem like you’re not getting a raise at all? It’s important to remember that the health benefit contributions and rising pension rates all came at the hands of Chris Christie and Chapter 78, a law enacted in the 2011-2012 school year, which required school employees to pay a portion of health insurance premiums.
Since Ch. 78 became negotiable less than a handful of districts have been able to negotiate a reduction in Ch. 78—and none of them decent. The few that have led to devastating effects for their members; accepting zero percent raises and using the “raise” money to reduce Ch. 78 (I know, it’s dumbfounding), laying off 100’s of coworkers, those not fired receive their reductions with blood money, etc. These offers were presented to our negotiations team and they were straight up rejected on principle.
So let’s all help each other. Whether Ch. 78 ate your raise or not it is important to remind our legislators that we too are taxpayer and voters. Chapter 78 relief needs to happen but it won’t ever happen if your local state legislator doesn’t even know you exist or how negatively it’s impacting one of their constituents!
Please use the following link to send a letter to Governor Murphy, and your State Senator and Assemblymen telling them to repeal Chapter 78! Pass this on to your friends and family! Every voice counts!
In Solidarity,
John M Abeigon
President & Director of Organization
Newark Teachers Union, Local 481, AFT, AFL-CIO