N.J. Public Workers Pack the House, Demand Legislature Stand Up to Governor Murphy’s Attack on Collective Bargaining Rights in Backroom Budget Deal

Contact:  Moira Bulloch, CWA Communications ([email protected]), 202-434-1168

EVENT ADVISORY FOR 12:00 P.M., THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2025

N.J. Public Workers Pack the House, Demand Legislature Stand Up to Governor Murphy’s Attack on Collective Bargaining Rights in Backroom Budget Deal

TRENTON, N.J. – On Thursday, a coalition of unions representing hundreds of thousands of public sector workers are packing the Assembly and Senate budget hearings in order to demand legislators stand up against Governor Murphy’s betrayal of union workers in a backroom budget deal that violates the union contract that the Governor signed with public workers and will increase healthcare costs for nearly 100,000 working families in New Jersey.

As the Governor rushes to complete the budget, he is bypassing regular bargaining processes to balance the budget on the backs of public sector workers who could be saddled with thousands more per year in added healthcare costs. Furthermore, Democratic leaders are refusing to address the structural issues in the State Health Benefits Plan (SHBP) and deliver on relief for local governments and local government employees.

WHAT: Press availability with leaders of New Jersey unions.

WHO: A coalition of labor unions, including the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, AFSCME NJ, AAUP-AFT, AFT New Jersey, the Council of New Jersey State Colleges, URA-AFT, HPAE, IFPTE, and others.

WHEN: 12:00 P.M., Thursday, June 26, 2025

WHERE: Outside the budget hearing, New Jersey State House Annex, 131-137 W State St, Trenton, N.J.

At a time when workers are already struggling under a crushing affordability crisis, this budget punishes public employees while protecting hospital CEOs and insurance companies. To add to the catastrophe in the making, according to the Administration, a 20%+ SHBP rate hike is likely to be announced in July. That, combined with this deal, could drive healthcare costs up by over $4,100 per worker per year for State workers. For local government workers, it could be even worse.

A coalition of labor unions, including the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, AFSCME NJ, AAUP-AFT, AFT New Jersey, the Council of New Jersey State Colleges, URA-AFT, HPAE, IFPTE, and others, is fighting for legislation to make healthcare more affordable, require fair pricing for healthcare services, and improve the governance and transparency of the State healthcare plan.

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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.