Unions defend judge's ruling in New Jersey pension lawsuit

Source: Newsday

By GEOFF MULVIHILL

Unions for New Jersey public workers said in a court filing that Gov. Chris Christie's administration was wrong to suggest a judge "fabricated" a right to full pension contributions.

The argument came in a filing Monday with the state Supreme Court, which is weighing whether to uphold a lower court's ruling ordering the governor and Legislature to put more money toward contributions this year.

In an earlier brief, Christie's lawyers accused the judge of creating a constitutional right to annual pension contributions.

Unions including the New Jersey Education Association and the Communications Workers of America said in the filing that pensions are deferred payments to workers for services already rendered. They argued that it was the state that created an obligation to make the payment in the future by not paying enough in the past.

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