Eyewitness NewsTrenton, NJ (WABC) -- The struggle to legislate higher pension and health benefits contributions from a half-million New Jersey public workers is producing winners and losers. Organized labor is losing clout in its attacks on traditional Democratic allies who support the legislation. And pro-union Democrats are pitted against colleagues who plan to vote to limit collective bargaining for a health care package.
The big winner may be Republican Gov. Chris Christie, who promised during his 2009 campaign to rein in public employee benefits as a way to help stabilize runaway property taxes.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney, an ironworker and a Democrat who sponsored the bill, says the traditionally Democratic unions have the right to throw their support behind Republicans in the next election. (Copyright ©2011 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New Jersey News »new jersey, new jersey news
