Negotiators for state government and for unions representing 35,000 workers have reached an agreement on a proposed contract that would for the first time require that New Jersey employees pay a portion of their health insurance premiums and would increase their contribution to the state pension fund. The proposal, which would raise the retirement age for new employees to 60 from 55, would give state employees salary increases of about 13 percent over four years. The pact, which must be voted on by members of seven locals of the Communications Workers of America, is being opposed by the two largest locals.
See "Insurance Payment Is Part of New Jersey Workers? Pact", Ronald Smothers, The New York Times, February 21, 2007