The Fight Continues—Led By CWA—for Affordable Healthcare in New Jersey

​CWA members and retirees in New Jersey have continued to build on a massive campaign this year to put a stop to skyrocketing healthcare costs for State and Local Government workers, reaching a pressure point in the final days of the 2026 State Budget negotiations at the end of June.

CWA led a mass mobilization at the state capitol in opposition to Governor Phil Murphy's budget, which would deepen the already crisis-level situation for 90,000 public sector workers throughout the state with roughly $200 million in cuts to the State Health Benefits Plan.

​In addition to packing the room during Senate and Assembly budget hearings, CWA members made roughly 700 calls and sent nearly 1,500 emails to their legislators, and sent over 3,100 emails to Governor Murphy urging him to stand with working families and stop the cuts that will shift healthcare cost increases onto workers. Despite these efforts, lawmakers voted the budget into law, and the governor has signed it. But the budget doesn’t take effect until January 2026, and CWA is keeping up the fight on multiple fronts.

In addition to the cuts in the budget being made on the backs of workers, the State Health Benefits Commission, which maintains the healthcare plan for our members working for the State of NJ, released a proposal for a 19.7% increase in State worker healthcare premiums.

“Let me be clear,” said Billy Gallagher, CWA District 1 Assistant to the Vice President, during a Member Town Hall last week. “This is a crisis, and CWA is not standing by. We’ve spent the past several months organizing our members, lobbying legislators, and building a broad coalition with a dozen other public worker unions to demand a solution to these unsustainable healthcare cost increases. And while the Governor has refused to negotiate or include us in the process, we have legislative allies who are standing with us, and a plan to fix this.”

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In June, CWA endorsed Mikie Sherrill for Governor of New Jersey citing a strong track record of fighting for working people and working collaboratively with CWA on our legislative priorities—and she has already spoken out on behalf of CWA members, retirees, and working families. She has committed to working with CWA to make healthcare more affordable for New Jersey residents. Dozens of lawmakers have also signed on in support, issuing statements affirming their dedication to working with CWA toward a solution.

CWAers are mobilizing for several big action days over the next couple of weeks at the State House in Trenton to urge lawmakers to pass new legislation to put a stop to these rising costs:

• Thursday, July 24 - Committee Hearing in the Assembly on our healthcare bill, A5903
• Monday, July 28 - State Health Benefits Plan (SHBP) Meeting

If you’re a member or retiree in New Jersey, reach out to your CWA local for more info on how to get involved!