AFSCME New Jersey Council 63 strongly condemns the New Jersey Department of Treasury’s report about the State Health Benefits Program.

 “This report is attempt by the State to absolve themselves of responsibility for a crisis their neglect has created” said Steve Tully, Executive Director of AFSCME New Jersey Council 63. “We agree that the SHBP has reached a breaking point but, over the past few years, instead of embracing common-sense reforms to rein in increased costs and help with the long-term stability of the SHBP, the State has decided to side with the insurance companies and hospitals instead of public service workers and the taxpayers.”

 Over the past few years, AFSCME and other public sector unions have been offering common-sense reforms that could save hundreds of millions of dollars. Last year, we gave the Administration proposals that could have saved hundreds of millions of dollars. The State rejected all of them and continued to prioritize the price hikes set by insurance companies. Controlling costs and making healthcare more affordable for tens of thousands of workers will reduce costs for taxpayers, save State and Local governments money, and ensure that public service workers who have dedicated their careers to providing services to the people of New Jersey have access to the affordable, high-quality healthcare that they deserve.

 AFSCME stands with our sisters and brothers in CWA, the NJ AFL-CIO, AAUP-AFT, AFT New Jersey, The Council of New Jersey State Colleges, URA-AFT, HPAE, IFPTE Local 195, IFPTE Local 194, IFPTE Local 196, and IFPTE Local 196-12 in calling for the State legislature to pass a comprehensive healthcare reform bill that will address affordability and rapidly rising costs, and increase governance and transparency in the State health plan.