In a true show of solidarity, NJEA and NJREA members joined forces in putting a stop to legislation that would make drastic changes to post-retirement benefits.

In the final few days before the state budget is voted on by the legislature and signed into law by the governor, NJEA received word that the legislature made a last-minute deal to close the budget gap by agreeing to change retiree health benefits.

Senator Gordon Johnson (Bergen LD 37) introduced S4657 – legislation that would make changes to post-retirement health benefits by eliminating IRMAA (Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) reimbursements for retiree members in SEHBP. IRMAA payments are a surcharge added to Medicare monthly premiums for Part B and Part D plans. When Congress enacted IRMAA in 2007, NJEA worked with the legislature to ensure that enrollees in the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) could apply for annual reimbursements for IRMAA payments incurred during the previous year. Thousands of NJREA members access this post-retirement medical benefit that S4657 will eliminate.

NJREA President Joan Wright told the crowd, “We know if this piece of legislation passes, it will not be the last time they try to come after our hard-earned benefits.”

People power makes the difference

NJEA acted quickly in organizing NJREA members to jump into action. Within 24 hours of the bill’s introduction, NJREA President Joan Wright along with NJEA President Sean M. Spiller, Vice President Steve Beatty, and Secretary Treasurer Petal Robertson, held a virtual meeting with over 1,700 NJREA members to explain the bill and provide them with actions they needed to take.

Since Tuesday, NJREA and NJEA members made thousands of phone calls and sent over 4,000 emails to legislators. And today, over 100 NJREA and NJEA members came together in Trenton to remind the legislature that we will not stand by and watch as the Legislature tries to balance the budget on the backs of our retiree members.

NJEA President Sean M. Spiller, incoming Secretary-Treasurer Tina Dare and NJREA President Joan Wright welcomed members who also had the chance to hear from Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds Jackson (Mercer, LD 15), Assemblywoman Tennille McCoy (Mercer, LD 14) and Assemblywoman Carmen Theresa Morales (Essex, LD 34) about the importance of their voice on education matters.

NJEA Government Relations Director, Deborah Cornavaca provided members with background on the chaotic process of finalizing a state budget when word came that Senator Johnson withdrew S4657 from the bill list. Read his statement here.

Spiller reminded members that organizing to stop S4657 and other pieces of harmful legislation is why being in a union matters, “We are powerful when we work together. There is strength in our unity — this is the true power of our union!”