NJ public workers continue their rush to retirement

Back in February the state of New Jersey estimated 20,000 public workers might retire this year, the largest number in decades. Why? "Uncertainty" about Gov. Chris Christie's plans for making them pay for their gold-plated benefit packages.

And the floodgates have opened! So far already more than 15,000 government employees have opted to take the money and run.

The steady rise in retirements comes amid economic uncertainty, with changes in pension and health benefits for public employees remaining at the top of the state's political agenda. As a result, an increasing number of the more than 500,000 state and municipal employees are choosing to retire rather than risk having their benefits cut by legislators.

Good grief! We have five hundred thousand government employees? In a state with only 8.7 million people? Pennsylvania, with 12.4 million residents and something like 6 times our land mass, gets by with about 350,000 public workers.

So, is New Jersey overstaffed? I'd say "yes."

But, sniff, with so many people leaving their cushy public jobs, the folks left behind are sad.

"This is very destructive and indicates a low level of morale that workers are leaving jobs in this bad economy," said Hetty Rosenstein, president of the Communication Workers of America, which represents about 40,000 state workers.

Repeat after me Ms. Rosenstein: the unemployment rate is 9.1% (thanks in no small part to that Obama fellow you and your union buddies helped put into office). So if you guys don't like your jobs anymore? I'm sure I can find an unemployed taxpayer or 3 who'll jump at the chance to take your place.

Posted at 10:09 by Chris Wysocki   [/nj_politics]   Comments | Perm Link |
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