Posted: Wednesday, 10 March 2010 5:12AM

A Major Mea Culpa from Governor Christie (With Audio)

Kevin McArdle Reporting

While on the gubernatorial campaign trail, Chris Christie insisted he could change the current state worker contract that was negotiated by former Governor Jon Corzine and his administration. Christie, of course is now Governor and he's also now admitting he was wrong to think and say he could lay-off or furlough public employees.

"Because of the agreement Governor Corzine made I cannot lay-off one state worker, I cannot furlough a state worker until January 2011," explains Christie. "That was the great election year deal he (Corzine) made for us. It is an exquisite pair of handcuffs that he put on his successor."

Asked to explain why, as a candidate he said he could alter the public employee contract, Christie said, "I was wrong. My lawyers have now told me that I am bound by that deal. That was during the campaign when it was what I thought should be true. Now I know what's true. I was wrong. Now I've got to figure out a way to try to work with it."

In late 2008, Corzine reopened the workers' contracts after state revenues plunged and New Jersey's budget deficit ballooned. Under the renegotiated deal, the unions put off a 3.5 percent pay raise for 18 months and took furlough days in exchange for a no-layoff-pledge through December 2010.

Christie says his attorneys have told him that laying off state workers would accelerate the raise payment schedule under the current contract.

"We're pleased that the Governor now acknowledges that he is bound by last year's agreement under which state workers made significant financial sacrifices in exchange for a measure of job security," says Communications Workers of America State Director Hetty Rosenstein. "Over the last three years state workers have agreed to $450 million in concessions to help the state address its fiscal problems."

Rosenstein says, "Now it's time for the Governor to begin a dialogue with state worker unions about how best to address the State's fiscal problems in a way that preserves vital services for New Jersey. We have asked to sit down with him, and are disappointed that he has not even responded to our offer."

E-Mail

A A A

South Jersey's Own Variety