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Educators hope to teach legislators a lesson on protecting benefits

Monday, December 11, 2006 • BY ROBERT SCHWANEBERG • Star-Ledger Staff

As lawmakers convene today to consider measures intended to rein in New Jersey's highest-in-the-nation property taxes, they will get an earful from the state's most powerful lobbying force: the New Jersey Education Association teachers union.

In concert with other public employee unions, the NJEA hopes to bring tens of thousands of workers to a Trenton rally on a day when the Legislature is in session and schools ought to be. Staffing shortages have forced some districts to cancel classes for the day.

"We're hoping to send a message," said Lynn Maher, a spokeswoman for the NJEA. "The message is: We are not the problem. School employees, public employees, did not cause the property tax problem."

Both the Senate and Assembly are scheduled to vote today on a modest package of reform bills in tended to control or lower property taxes. Democratic leaders had already jettisoned more controversial proposals when, last Thursday, they acceded to Gov. Jon Corzine's request to take out any provisions affecting unionized workers and leave any such changes to ongoing contract negotiations.

Assemblyman Kevin O'Toole (R-Essex) contends the reform package has been so watered down that today's show of force by the unions is "kind of a moot point."

"Nothing's going to be done that's going to affect their pensions or anything else," O'Toole said.

Maher said the threat to unionized workers' pension and health care benefits has simply "been moved from the legislative table to the bargaining table. So the need for the rally is as great as ever."

In addition to the NJEA, unions scheduled to take part in the rally include the Communications Workers of America, the state AFL-CIO, the International Association of Firefighters and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

"We're expecting thousands and thousands of people, and that's just school employees," Maher said. "We do know we have at least 100 buses and each one holds 50 people." She said the NJEA was scrambling to line up additional parking lots to accommodate the many teachers expected to travel to the Statehouse by car.

Even so, Maher said the rally will not eclipse a massive demonstration held in June 1994 to protest then-Gov. Christie Whitman's plans to end state subsidies of pub lic employee pensions. That rally, held on a Sunday, drew 36,000 by the NJEA's own estimate and more than 25,000, according to State Police.

"It was a huge success in terms on numbers, but the Legislature wasn't in session," Maher said. She said she hopes today's demonstration will have a greater impact on lawmakers.

So many teachers have taken a personal day to attend that schools in Morristown and Morris Township, South Amboy, Cinnaminson and Gloucester City, as well as the Burlington County Institute of Technology, have canceled classes.

"Citizens have a right to rally and petition their government. However, I think it's very unfortunate that school districts have to close," said Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon). "Not only the children involved but the parents of the children involved rightly expect schools to be open the days they are scheduled to be open."

Maher said "all but a handful" of the state's 597 operating school districts remain open today and the few that chose to close will make up the school day later in the year.

"Students will not miss a day of school," Maher said.

Bills scheduled for floor votes today include measures creating a state comptroller, giving county superintendents veto power over local school budgets and forming a commission to recommend consolidation of local governments and school districts. Late last week, however, Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) said he may be unable to muster the votes needed to pass some of those bills.

Unions expect thousands at Statehouse

Unions expect thousands at Statehouse

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