A Message From Your Unions Governor Corzine has demanded a Wage Freeze and 14 unpaid furlough days (2 in May and June, and 12 in fiscal year 2010.) He has also said that he will lay off as many as 7000 workers to achieve that savings if there is not a negotiated agreement. Our Unions are working together to address the fiscal crisis in a responsible fashion. Our goal is to protect jobs and collective bargaining and to remain united in our discussions with the Governor over the effects of his proposals. We are developing an alternative approach to the Governor’s that protects jobs and services, employs shared sacrifice, provides the savings that the Governor is looking for and respects collective bargaining. We know that all of our members are anxious and concerned about jobs and about the integrity of our contracts. We are trying to strategically and responsibly address this crisis and we will keep you informed as we have information. No Layoffs! Shared Sacrifice! Respect Collective Bargaining! In Unity, Sherryl Gordan, Executive Director, AFSCME Nick Yovnello, President, Council NJ State College Locals, AFT Hetty Rosenstein, NJ Area Director, CWA Don Buchanan, President Local 195, IFPTE To: All KFT Members From: James A. Castiglione, KFT President Date: February 10, 2009 Re: Wage freeze for non-union employees; SHBP audit suspended I. Wage freeze for non-union state employees Many of you may have read the February 3, 2009 article in the Star-Ledger asserting that the New Jersey State Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee had approved, “…an 18-month wage freeze for state workers…”. Let me clarify that this wage freeze applies only to non-union state employees and not to unionized public sector workers. The act of the Budget & Appropriations Committee was simply to legislatively memorialize an executive order of Governor Jon Corzine freezing salaries for managerial employees for the next 18 months. This wage freeze does not retroactively undo the 4% raises that Kean managers received from the Board of Trustees in June, one month after claims that a catastrophic budget crisis required a wrenching change in the class schedule. * Let me reiterate that this wage freeze does not apply to members of our AFT bargaining unit. At this time, nothing of this nature has been presented to our bargaining unit. The position taken by the State Council’s Executive Committee is that “a contract is a contract” - that our existing contract must be honored. The State Council’s Executive Committee is scheduled to meet on February 20 with the Treasurer of the State of New Jersey, accompanied by David Beckett, the Director of the Office of Employee Relations. The only purpose of the meeting is to review the state’s finances and how it impacts our sector for the coming fiscal year. Both State Council Vice President Jon Erickson and I will attend that meeting. The KFT will continue to keep you informed as new information becomes available. II. SHBP Dependent Eligibility Verification Audit now suspended Some members received a letter at home last week from Aon Consulting titled, “ACTION REQUIRED: Verifying SHBP health plan eligibility for dependent(s)”. The letter asks that members provide “legal documentation” to confirm that their dependents are eligible for coverage under the State Health Benefits Program. State Council President Nick Yovnello sent a letter to the State demanding an immediate cessation of the audit and we were alerted yesterday that the State has complied. * The SHBP dependent eligibility audit has been suspended. * Do NOT comply with Aon Consulting’s request for your personal information until further notification. The KFT thanks President Yovnello and the State Council for their quick action. For further details on this issue please see the letter from President Yovnello dated February 5th.