NJREA meeting overview

Jaime, our president attended a meeting of NJREA NJ (Retired) EA last week.  The meeting covered pensions, health insurance and how it will affect those already retired and future generations (us!).  And, of course, the "political climate" could not be avoided as part of the discussion.

Here were some key points, don't hold me to my word as these are from my notes & memory.  If you want to make sure something is factual, do some research & please, if I'm wrong let me know so I can make corrections.

If budget passes:

• Teachers benefits will be merged with other state workers benefits
• meaning when they negotiate a change in their benefits, ours will be affected
• Pensions 
• for us, they may not be there
• if they are, they (not sure who, government presumably) can change just about anything about them before, and after we retire.
• NJEA is particularly upset about this because the state is supposed to contribute to teacher pensions but out of the last 15 years, has only contributed 2 years.  NJEA dues pay teacher pensions, so they don't see why the state should be able to change teacher pensions as will.
• Insurance
• We will be linked with state workers insurance (I think)
• Coordination of Benefits (the ability to use yours & your spouses insurance to pay claims) will be taken away.
• higher co-pays, etc
• Politics
• Considering what our future profession is facing, we need to be activist for what we beleive!
• We need to vote on the school budget (which is today...)
• we need to attend rally's
• we need to stay on top of what's happening so we can make informed decisions about our future as an educator!