Sweeney D-Gloucester Calls For Union Givebacks

North Jersey Media Group providing local news, sports & classifieds for Northern New Jersey!: "Three South Jersey lawmakers demanded Thursday that unionized state employees give up raises, scale back benefits and work longer hours with fewer holidays to help balance the budget and avoid tax increases."

Reaction to the lawmakers' proposal was swift and pointed. Union leaders said state workers already have done their share, the Corzine administration said the time to discuss wages and benefits was at the bargaining table, and fellow Democrats called them "demagogues."

"I think it's pretty shameful that a guy that comes out of labor is trying to make a name for himself by vilifying middle-income state workers and attacking the collective bargaining process," said Bob Master, legislative and political director for Communications Workers of America District 1, referring to Sweeney. "I think it's a diversion from the real fiscal issues of the state."