Press Releases

N.J. Public Workers Pack Assembly Budget Committee to Support Critical Fix for State Health Benefits

Contact:  Anna-Marta Visky, CWA ([email protected]), 347-574-5665

EVENT ADVISORY FOR 11:00 A.M., THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2025

N.J. Public Workers Pack Assembly Budget Committee to Support Critical Fix for State Health Benefits 

TRENTON, N.J. – On Thursday, unions representing tens of thousands of public sector workers are packing a committee meeting of the Assembly Budget Committee to advocate for affordable healthcare as legislators consider New Jersey Assembly Bill 5903, legislation that enhances transparency, governance, and oversight of the New Jersey State Health Benefits Program (SHBP).

WHAT: Press availability with leaders of New Jersey unions outside of the Assembly Budget Committee hearing on A5903.

WHO: The Communications Workers of America (CWA) leadership and union members.

WHEN: 11:00 A.M., Thursday, July 24, 2025

WHERE: New Jersey State House Annex, 131-137 W State St, Trenton, NJ 08608

Highlights of A5903 include:

  • Controlling costs and protecting taxpayer dollars by expanding claims review to recoup improper payments to insurance companies or providers, placing limits on costly GLP-1 drugs, tightening oversight of other high-priced medications, and requiring more frequent cost-effectiveness reviews. 
  • Ensuring affordability for local government employees and employers by requiring SHBP to offer five plans with salary-based contributions, and by triggering collective bargaining if private plan costs exceed SHBP rates. This will reinforce collective bargaining by respecting local arrangements where unions and management have lowered expenses through negotiations.
  • Reforming the governance structure by expanding the State Health Benefits Commission for equal stakeholder representation, merging its powers with the Plan Design Committee for greater efficiency, and requiring transparency in insurance pricing, carrier performance, and public contracting.

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About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in public service, telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

cwa-union.org @cwaunion