Today in Trenton 4/27/11

SPEAKER OLIVER: TOLL WORKERS PLAN TO SAVE MONEY & JOBS MUST BE CONSIDERED
(TRENTON) – Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic) on Wednesday released the following statement after attending a rally with toll collectors concerned about the administration’s plan to privatize toll collections:

“It’s outrageous that toll collectors are being demonized as the ones responsible for the economic problems facing our state, when in fact they’ve contributed to the state’s success through their commitment and dedication to their difficult jobs.

“I applaud the toll workers for offering $35 million in painful concessions to help the state fight through this difficult economy. The workers know they must share in the sacrifice and have offered a plan to save money and jobs.

“It was the right thing to do.

“What concerns me deeply is the administration’s continued refusal to negotiate seriously to find a way to help taxpayers while saving jobs. Their refusal to do so can only mean they place conservative ideology over the well-being of taxpayers and toll workers.

“That is the wrong thing to do..

“The toll workers are not pawns. They’re real people with families, homes and responsibilities who have devoted their working lives to this state. They’ve offered a plan to save money and jobs. Their plan deserves consideration.”

GREENSTEIN, DeANGELO, BENSON CALL FOR CEASEFIRE IN ASSAULT AGAINST TOLL WORKERS
14TH District Legislators Urge Turnpike Authority, Administration to Accept Unions’
Olive Branch to Help Achieve Savings

(TRENTON) – Senator Linda Greenstein and Assemblymen Wayne DeAngelo and Dan Benson today called on the NJ Turnpike Authority and the Christie administration to stop the assault against toll collectors and instead work with them to achieve the cost savings they are aiming for through a hasty privatization plan that could impact nearly 700 workers on both the Turnpike and Parkway.

The 14th District Legislators noted that toll collectors unions have agreed to roughly $35 million in concessions to help save the state money and preserve existing jobs.

“It’s unconscionable to try and balance this budget, or future budgets, by chipping away at the livelihoods of working class residents,” said Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer). “Toll collectors have not caused our budget problems. In fact, they have helped bring in an enormous amount of revenue to support our transportation needs and are proving that they are willing to be part of the solution through collective bargaining. We’ve seen enough privatization plans to know that the salt-of-the-earth workers are the ones who suffer.”

“This administration needs to re-examine its approach to cost savings. Time and again, we see a one-sided attack approach employed, rather than coming to the table in a productive manner to reach a workable compromise,” said DeAngelo (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “With the unions readily offering up major concessions it makes more sense to work with them through collective bargaining to achieve the cost-savings the state is seeking right now.”

“Even after holding a hearing on this issue last week, we still have little answers in terms of how a privatization plan will affect existing employees or how much it will ultimately save the state,” said Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “Toll workers have demonstrated an extraordinary willingness to sacrifice right now. This administration should hear them out and make a good faith effort to achieve savings and efficiencies through negotiations, rather than a hasty move towards privatization.”