New Jersey Fire Fighters Rally to Oppose Pension Cuts

December 12, 2006 – Almost 20,000 fire fighters, teachers and other New Jersey public employees rallied in Trenton, New Jersey, December 11 at the State House to demand that state legislators reject a number of bills that would cut pensions and health care benefits that have been proposed to make up the funding gaps created when the state decided to take a number of funding "holidays" in the past.

Union leaders representing fire fighters, police officers, teachers and other public workers pointed to the state legislature's long-term mismanagement of finances which lawmakers are now trying to reverse by reducing public employee pensions and benefits. Speakers at the rally, sponsored by the New Jersey Education Association, called for the state legislature to “back off.”

“If we don’t get them to do what’s right, then we’re going to work next November to replace them,” said IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger, who led the crowd in raucous chants of "pay your fair share" aimed at the lawmakers.

The legislative proposals include a recommended 41 changes to pensions and benefits for public employees and elected and appointed officials, including raising the retirement age from 55 to 62, adjusting the formula used to calculate pensions and the creation of a new 401(k)-type pension plan.

Following the rally, Schaitberger, Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey President (PFANJ) Tom Canzanella, New Jersey State Fraternal Order of Police President Ed Brannigan and Fraternal Order of Police National President Chuck Canterbury met with New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine to make sure he clearly understood the position of the public safety workers who protect the citizens across the state, and to make sure any proposed changes be left to the collective bargaining process.

Photos by Dennis Symons, Jr. Local 3786