Read an interesting statement last night Save Jerseyans, this one came from Bill Mullen, the NJ Building and Constructions Trades Council President. It seems that even though there are many in the union world of New Jersey that are particularly unhappy with certain Democrat Senators in South Jersey, the big wigs are all attempting to band together and convince their members that those same Senators have their interests at heart.
“New Jersey’s building trades are proud to stand with Senate President Steve Sweeney, Senator Donald Norcross, Assemblyman John Amodeo and the many other worthy candidates who did not follow the NJ State AFL-CIO’s wishes on one issue. If the NJ State AFL-CIO is going to let one vote dictate who is and who is not going to get their endorsement, the Building & Construction Trades Council unanimously have agreed to continue to stand together and walk out of their convention alongside our Building Trades Legislators. We will not stand idly by and watch the NJ State AFL-CIO do what we have fought a lifetime against….endorse on one vote. Our 150,000 members know who is on their side.
Pension and Benefit Reform was most like the most important issue to shoot across the nose of New Jersey labor in years. Many unions guys seem to feel that Senators Sweeney and Norcross stabbed them in the back by voting for it and participating in its crafting.
The irony? Republicans running against Norcross in the 5th District, such as union member and assembly candidate Wil Levins, are vehemently against the reform that took place this year. And while I think that Levins is dead wrong on this issue (which he frames as a matter of “rights”) he at least takes the position that one would think the unions would swoon over. Instead, the AFL-CIO has decided to side with Senators who worked against labor to do what we all know was the best decision for our state.
The thing is, thats not how labor is couching its endorsement. Instead of putting out a statement saying that they understand the dire situation our pension system was in, and the importance of benefit reform to our state’s fiscal future, they put out a statement that basically says “we know Senators Sweeney and Norcross turned their backs on us, but we are supporting them anyway because they are Democrats. And that is the only reason.”
In other, very related news, Senator Norcross recently resigned from his position as President of the South Jersey Central Labor Council. Rumor has it that there was quite a bit of dissent from within the organization that may have led to his resignation before his term expires later this year. He of course denies it, but will step down on labor day anyway.
Poll shows Gov. Christie's approval rating dive after public worker benefits overhaul, budget cuts
Published: Thursday, July 21, 2011, 6:00 AM Updated: Thursday, July 21, 2011, 6:02 AM
TRENTON — A survey released Wednesday by a Democratic polling firm shows Gov. Chris Christie’s approval rating took a dive in the weeks after he signed legislation overhauling public employee benefits and making budgets cuts that caused Democrats to label him as vindictive.
Of those surveyed, 53 percent disapprove of the governor’s job performance and 43 percent approve, according to Public Policy Polling. The last time the pollster asked New Jersey residents what they thought of Christie was in January, when 48 percent approved and 45 percent disapproved.