Teachers union
vows: Pension cuts will flunk
Friday, November 10, 2006 •
BY JOHN MOONEY • Star-Ledger Staff
With state lawmakers poised to unveil plans to trim the state's rising property taxes, the head of the state's largest teachers union vowed to fight cuts to members' pensions and benefits yesterday, terming the issue a "third rail." Still, there was clearly a siege mentality at the New Jersey Education Association's annual convention in Atlantic City, where members acknowledged swirling criticism that has surfaced as lawmakers debate property tax reform. "We're such easy targets," said Beverly Thames, a Pemberton kindergarten teacher who was among 34,000 school teachers attending the convention. "They give us more standards and testing, all wanting us to do more. And they pull the rug out from under us." Nearby, the NJEA's government relations booth handed out information packets and implored members to contact their legislators and sign up for the "Pension and Benefits Protection Squad." Richard Polny, a New Brunswick special education teacher, was handing out pre-addressed postcards for members to send to Gov. Jon Corzine, who is scheduled to make an appearance today. Polny, noting past references to the union as the 800-pound gorilla of New Jersey politics, said, "I sure hope so this time. And that we go up to 850 pounds." NJEA president Joyce Powell conceded that despite a membership of nearly 200,000 teachers and school staff, the current situation constituted one of the more serious challenges to union influence. "Yes, I've had some sleepless nights," she said. "Pensions used to be an untouchable," added Robert Bonazzi, the union's executive director. "But they are looking everywhere they can to find money." Details of the Legislature's plans remain sketchy, but NJEA leaders said they expect one proposal would weaken benefits for younger or new employees. New teachers might need to work until the age of 60 to become fully vested in the pension, for example, instead of the current 55. The union supports proposals to curtail pension abuses, but the NJEA considers any reduction in rank-and-file pensions -- even for members not yet on the rolls -- to be a non-starter. "That's the third rail," Powell said. "There will be a battle on that one." The battle will come at a time when the union -- which has been a powerful supporter of Democrats, including Corzine -- finds itself at a crossroads. The NJEA once again flexed its muscle in this week's U.S. Senate race, with 1,000 union members working to elect Sen. Robert Me nendez. A pre-recorded message from Powell urged 196,000 NJEA members to vote for the Hudson County Democrat. But much of the union's long- time staff leadership is expected to turn over in the next year. After 16 years at the helm, Bonazzi announced he will leave by the end of next summer, and the union's government relations direc tor, James Schroeder, also is resigning. Powell said she did not expect the staff transition would affect the union's mission -- which she identi fied as a combination of collective bargaining and professional development. To highlight the latter, Powell yesterday helped announce an initiative called the Center for Teaching and Learning that would provide training to teachers in specific subject areas. The NJEA has committed $500,000 a year to the endeavor. "Professional development and bargaining are two sides of the same coin," she said afterward. "And it is the demand of our membership to provide both." © 2006 The Star-Ledger. Used by NJ.com with permission. |