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SENATORS GORDON AND GREENSTEIN OUTRAGED OVER CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION’S COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR NJ CONSTITUTION AND WORKERS

New Jersey Senate Chambers

Senators Bob Gordon (D-Bergen and Passaic) and Linda R. Greenstein (D-Middlesex and Mercer), prime sponsors of a concurrent resolution to block the Civil Service Commission’s controversial plan to strip civil service protections, expressed outrage today over the Commission’s disregard for New Jersey’s Constitution by voting to implement these changes.

The Legislature approved SCR-166/ACR-215, a concurrent resolution to prevent the administration from adopting the proposed job-banding proposal, on January 9, 2014, which marked the first time the Legislature had ever used its authority to stop an executive rule change.

Senator Gordon:

“The Civil Service Commission’s actions are a blatant disregard for the Legislature’s authority, a defiance of the state constitution and demonstrates a complete lack of respect for the rights of public employees.  The civil service protections are in place for good reasons and they should be protected. In taking this action, the administration is crossing the well-defined lines of power between the different branches of government. The executive branch and the Civil Service Commission should not  move forward with these changes  that are in direct conflict with the Legislature’s intent. The working men and women of this state deserve better than to have these changes forced upon them.“

Senator Greenstein:

“The Legislature spoke loud and clear when they voted to stop this jobs banding scheme that would severely compromise the long-established system of government service in New Jersey. For a century, promotions within state government were determined on merit and evaluated performance and with these changes, patronage, favoritism and cronyism will seep back into the system.  Public employees deserve the job protections and professional evaluations that serve them and the State of New Jersey.”