Corzine says state workers face givebacks and possibly job cuts

With the state budget shrinking by more than 10 percent, state workers face a daunting menu of furloughs, wage givebacks -- and possibly job cuts, Gov. Jon Corzine said during the League of Municipalities convention in Atlantic City yesterday.

"While we remain true to working with the representatives of employee organizations, I can only hope that the state will not be forced into a last-resort position of layoffs," Corzine said in his formal address to delegates at the conven tion. "I am hopeful we all will conclude that in this time of recession and fiscal stress, the greater good is to keep as many people working as possible by having everyone pitch in by making a little less."

In a news conference after his speech, Corzine elaborated on his plans for the 70,000-member state work force.

"I think some kind of support from our public employees will be necessary for us to go from $33.5 billion worth of spending that oc cured in 2008 to a budget that will be roughly $30 billion," he said, adding that options are "very clear: furloughs, wage freezes, givebacks, and if we're forced, one of the things that we don't have to negotiate, you can put through layoffs."

Such talk raised hackles among union supporters at a State Investment Council meeting in Trenton.

"A contract is a contract," said Jonathan Berg, the state workers' representative on the investment council. "I doubt there will be any union members willing to allow the governor to ditch the contract."

Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Mercer), whose district includes numerous state workers, also was unrecep tive. "Certainly, given all the effort that was made to negotiate the contract I would hate to see the employee contracts re-opened," he said.

Corzine is searching for sweep ing budget cuts in the face of a fis cal crisis that has cut state tax revenues by $1.2 billion this year and by up to $5 billion below expecta tions for the budget year that starts July 1, 2009.

"This is going to be a shared experience" of budget pain, he said. "This is the time that everyone needs to pitch in and come to a so lution."