It's a Taxpayer Thing

Due to an oversight by their union representatives many state employees will not have today, the day after Thanksgiving, off as a paid holiday.

A year ago Governor Corzine warned them about this, but they apparently did not think that he was serious.

Individual union members who have stressed to the media that having this day off is incredibly important are still free to take the day off by using one of their vacation or personal days.

Many of them have been invoking the legally significant “traditional day off” guideline, but it’s hard to believe they would believe in that principle if this were reversed.

Think about it: “You know how we have always traditionally had Columbus Day off and it’s in our contract as a paid holiday? Well, we, your union reps, have decided you should all go to work without extra compensation and just donate the day back to the state of New Jersey out of the goodness of your hearts.”

It’s time for the employees to start holding their union reps responsible.

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One of the best reasons heard from union members for closing state offices today? The state will save money because they won’t have to heat them. So, it costs more to heat the buildings than donate a day’s pay to all those employees? The state must be paying way too much for utilities.

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I worked yesterday - no paid holidays or benefits. My significant other and I are both working today – no paid holidays or benefits. No work, no pay. A cyber poll on a local newspaper website showed about a third of the respondents will be working today. Support for the state employees’ position may be a little fragile among a significant number of taxpayers.