Corzine to unions: Never mind legislator's idea for givebacks State leaders called on to take accountability Thursday, June 15, 2006 • BY JEFF WHELAN • Star-Ledger Staff Gov. Jon Corzine took a not-so- veiled swipe at Sen. Steve Sweeney in a speech before hundreds of union members in Atlantic City yesterday while flatly rejecting the lawmaker's calls for givebacks by state workers. Sweeney shot back afterward that he is not backing down. He said he will continue his public campaign to urge state workers to voluntarily accept $700 million in pay and benefit cuts to help avoid a sales tax increase proposed by the governor. Sweeney's proposal has caused a rift in the state's labor movement, which gathered this week in Atlantic City for the annual AFL- CIO convention. The Gloucester County Democrat is an official with the ironworkers union, and while his proposal has drawn scorn from public employee unions, building trades organizations have rallied to his defense. State AFL-CIO president Charles Wowkanech referred to the rift as "the situation" before a meeting of hundreds of delegates at Caesar's yesterday morning, be fore Corzine tackled the issue him self. The governor previously has expressed opposition to Sweeney's plan, but in a speech with a "solidarity" theme, he made his most expansive remarks yet on the controversy and vowed to honor the current state worker contract that expires next year. "We're going to end up going to the collective bargaining table one of these days and it ain't always going to be pretty, but you know, I want to tell you, bargaining should be done at the table, not outside," Corzine said to loud applause. He added, "Family arguments, I've actually seen a few, both literally and figuratively, I think are most appropriately done behind closed doors. It doesn't mean there can't be disagreements. But I think we need to stand and work together to promote the unity that will benefit the people, not only of the union, but of the community at large." Sweeney walked out in the middle of Corzine's remarks to attend a television interview. He later said he heard the governor's comments about collective bargaining and family arguments and assumed they were about him. "He has every right to say how he feels, but he's got to realize that I actually live in that house. I live in the house of labor. He's been a dear friend, but I live there, and I know right from wrong," Sweeney said. "Why can't we talk about this? ... I'm not backing off of it." Sweeney said the debate "can't wait," because next year is an election year and lawmakers will be re lying on the state workers unions to help get them elected. He questioned whether there would be enough "courage" to make state worker pay and benefits an issue then. Sweeney's proposal has received scant support from his fel low lawmakers. During a taping of NJN's "On the Record" yesterday, Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) credited Sweeney with "advancing the debate in a meaningful way," but added, "We don't break an existing contract." In an effort to soothe tensions yesterday, a private meeting was held among Sweeney, building trades union officials and public employee union leaders. Sweeney declined to comment on the meet ing's details, but when asked if he was backing down, he said, "Not an inch." Carla Katz, president of Communications Workers of America Local 1034, the largest state workers union, also attended the meet ing and declined to comment on its details. But she said, "We're not backing off either. We support the governor's budget. We're going to continue to fight our fight to support a responsible budget." She said Sweeney's proposal has helped to mobilize public employees and that union leaders hope to get 10,000 people out at a Statehouse rally Monday to support Corzine's budget. Corzine also announced at the AFL-CIO convention yesterday that he was appointing David So colow state labor commissioner. Socolow has been serving in that post on an acting basis under Cor zine. "He's doing a great job," Cor zine told reporters. "He's shown to me that he can work with a broad community of labor. He's a smart, able man." Corzine also addressed the an nual conference of the New Jersey Association of Counties at Bally's Park Place in Atlantic City yesterday and called for greater shared services among local governments. "We're making a choice," he said. "Is it home rule or do we want to get property taxes under control?" © 2006 The Star-Ledger. Used by NJ.com with permission.