Christie Reaches Agreement With Largest Public Workers Union

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-05-04/christie-reaches-agreement-with-largest-public-workers-union

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.. Photographer: Scott Eells/Bloomberg

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and the state’s largest union announced a tentative four-year contract agreement that increases pay, reduces clothing allowances and recognizes a new law raising workers’ benefit costs.

Specifics of the tentative deal will be released next week by the administration and the Communications Workers of America, Christie said in a statement today. The union represents more than 35,000 state employees.

Christie, a first-term Republican, and the CWA have been negotiating since March 2011. The union’s contract expired in June, and talks stalled that month after Christie signed a bill forcing workers to pay more for health care. Union officials had lobbied for the contributions to be negotiated.

“It is clear under this contract, our members continue to make sacrifices,” the CWA said in a release posted on its website today. “Our tentative agreement contains small salary increases, reduces clothing maintenance allowances, and recognizes the new law governing health care for public employees.”

FULL story at link.

[DontTreadOnMe]

1. Shouldn't the title of this thread be...

"Christie Caves and Negotiates with Unions"