AFT ENDORSES CORZINE

 The American Federation of Teachers and the New Jersey State Federation of Teachers have endorsed Governor Jon Corzine’s bid for reelection. Corzine was also endorsed by the AFL/CIO at its recent statewide meeting.

 Jon Corzine has long been a friend of organized labor. This is still true despite the economic problems the state has been facing. In order to cut the state budget, which has a $3.2 billion deficit without cutting jobs, the Governor has instituted two unpaid furlough days, a move he says will save $35 million. He justifies his decision by saying, “I would suspect the arguments that I was too close before (to labor) were exaggerated,” he said. “And I think it is hardly anti-union to try to maintain people’s jobs, even if it is at lower economic benefit. The reality is unprecedented economic times, which require unprecedented responses.”

 Despite hard economic times, the Governor has favored living up to commitments made to organized labor including the guarantee of union wages on public works projects, paid family leave (funded by paycheck deductions), and card check as a way that workers can agree to form a union.

 Corzine’s opponent, Chris Christie, is against all of these issues. His anti-labor stance has included a refusal to meet with the NEA as he feels no education union will endorse him. Christie is probably correct as he feels collective bargaining “constricts the Governor’s ability to manage the government.” He also says he will eliminate pension and health benefits for all part-time employees. Last year adjunct pensions were threatened, and it is only through the hard work of those lobbying for us and the willing ears of the Corzine administration and the Democratic legislature to listen to their arguments that helped us to retain our pensions.