Christie vetoes bill boosting nonteaching staff's rights

Gov. Christie vetoed a bill Thursday that would have given nonteaching school employees such as teacher's aides, custodians, cafeteria workers, and bus drivers the same right to binding arbitration that educators have.

The bill called for giving nonteaching workers of local, county, or regional school districts, boards, or commissions the right to binding arbitration in any dispute, regardless of whether there was cause for a disciplinary action, including reprimands and terminations.

The governor's office did not reply to a request for comment.

State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D., Union), a primary sponsor of the bill, criticized the veto.

"It's a shame that Gov. Christie can't find it within himself to give to janitors, custodial workers, bus drivers, security guards, and cafeteria workers the same rights and protections over political discrimination that teachers have and should have," Lesniak said.

Ginger Gold Schnitzer, director of governmental relations for the New Jersey Education Association, which represents tens of thousands of what the union calls education support professionals, expressed disappointment.

"For us, it was a matter of equity and matter of fairness," Schnitzer said. "Naturally we are disappointed that the governor vetoed the bill. We are pleased the Legislature supported it."

There are about 50,000 of those workers, and more than 40,000 are represented by the NJEA, Schnitzer said. School secretaries have a right to arbitration, as do some custodians, Schnitzer said.

The New Jersey School Boards Association applauded the veto.

"This bill would have undermined the advances made in employee accountability through recent initiative," said Lawrence S. Feinsod, association executive director.

The association described the bill as giving "tenure-like protection" to nonteaching employees.

Feinsod said the bill would have "seriously undermined the authority of local boards of education . . . by preventing them from negotiating disciplinary procedures to effectively and efficiently manage employee conduct and performance."

Last month, the association noted, Christie vetoed legislation that would have restricted municipal and school districts' ability to subcontract services. Another anti-contracting bill is awaiting his action. The school board group has urged him to veto it.