N.J. Public Workers Pack SHBC Meeting as Commission Considers Devastating Healthcare Rate Increases

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

EVENT ADVISORY FOR 10:00 A.M., WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2025

N.J. Public Workers Pack SHBC Meeting as Commission Considers Devastating Healthcare Rate Increases

TRENTON, N.J. – On Wednesday, a coalition of unions representing hundreds of thousands of public sector workers are packing a meeting of the State Health Benefits Plan Commission (SHBC) to advocate for affordable healthcare as the Commission considers a devastating double-digit rate increase for nearly 100,000 working families in New Jersey.

WHAT: Press availability with leaders of New Jersey unions outside of a meeting of the State Health Benefits Plan Commission (SHBC) for the Plan Year 2026 rate renewal

WHO: A coalition of labor unions, including leadership of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFT New Jersey, and others available for interview.

WHEN: 10:00 A.M - 12:00 P.M., Wednesday, July 9, 2025

WHERE: Division of Taxation, 3 John Fitch Way, 1st floor, Trenton

At a time when workers are already struggling under a crushing affordability crisis, the FY2026 budget included language that arbitrarily cut $100M from the SHBP, punishing public employees while protecting hospital CEOs and insurance companies. To add to the catastrophe in the making, according to the Administration, SHBP is expected to announce a rate hike during Wednesday’s meeting. The combination of the rate hike and the budget cuts 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.

cwa-union.org @cwaunion