DRPA Union Pay Hikes Vetoed By NJ Governor
By David Madden
CAMDEN, NJ (CBS) -- Three union contracts approved last month by the Delaware River Port Authority, ending years of labor unrest at the authority, were rejected by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
The Governor used his authority to veto the pacts just as a 10 day window to act was about to close. It was a move that stunned DRPA officials, including board chairman Ryan Boyer, a Philadelphia union official.
"New Jersey Transit Authority got 2.5, 2.5, 2.5 in all the years," Boyer told KYW Newsradio, "and we were able to get without union partners and get some zeroes in those earlier years and give them 1.9. We thought it was a better deal for the Authority than the New Jersey Transit Authority got that Christie sanctioned himself."
The Governor intervened to avoid a strike on New Jersey Transit's rail division earlier this year.
Christie's veto message did not address the pay raises, but said the contracts "fail to restrain uncontrolled growth in health care spending", claiming the Authority would have to absorb over a million dollars in premium health care increases over the next two years.
Boyer says efforts are underway to attempt to convince Christie that his veto was a mistake.
