Scrubbing Scrubbing Everywhere, But Not A Dime To Save

From the Record/Herald News:

A call to cut state workers' perks
By JOHN P. McALPIN

"Three South Jersey lawmakers demanded Thursday that unionized state employees give up raises, scale back benefits and work longer hours with fewer holidays to help balance the budget and avoid tax increases."

"The legislators, led by a powerful senator who is also a prominent labor union boss, openly derided Governor Corzine and legislative leaders for lacking the will to challenge the unions and their members even as they cut programs for the poor and raise taxes."

"'We're scrubbing and scrubbing everywhere we possibly can to find savings so we don't have to do a tax increase, and this big pool of money is on the table and we're not even taking a look at it,' said Sweeney, the business manager for Ironworkers Union Local 399 and chairman of the Senate Labor Committee."

"Sweeney pointed out that state workers enjoy a range of concessions that many private-sector employees only dream of – a 35-hour workweek, 17 paid holidays on top of their paid vacations and retirement eligibility at 55 with complete health benefits for life."

"He said the state should raise the retirement age, cut the number of holidays and ask workers to stay longer than their seven-hour day. Union members should also pay more for health care benefits, he said."

"Those moves could save the state at least $700 million over time, Sweeney said."

"Yet, in New Jersey, the state's 70,000 union workers now enjoy salaries, benefits and other perks that far outstrip those of their counterparts in the private world, the lawmakers said."