Media Coverage

Daily Record
June 11, 2007

Increase social services salaries

To the Editor:

With the clock winding down on the Legislature's work on the state budget, we in the social service sector, who care for New Jersey's most vulnerable citizens, are making a final plea for a much-deserved and desperately needed 4.1 percent cost of providing care increase in July.

The current proposal by Gov. Jon Corzine for a 2 percent increase that does not take effect until January is simply not enough.

With requests for services on the rise and operational costs for health insurance, energy and gas at an all-time high the situation has become even more dire. The magnitude of this was realized when more than 1,500 employees, consumers and family members rallied in Trenton last week to call for immediate action to rectify this issue. Aging parents spoke, posing the question that keeps them awake at night: "Who will care for my special needs child when I am gone?"

As much as NewBridge staff was moved by the parents' words, and wished they could respond "I will," the ability to do so is moving further outside our grasp because of the lack of state support.

Every day human service workers perform heroic tasks -- protecting children, feeding the homeless, caring for the elderly, and serving as family to people with special needs on a 24/7/365 basis. They do so at historically lower pay scales than public, private and state employees.

It's not too late for Corzine and the Legislature to do the right thing. Please call, write or email Corzine and help support a 4.1 percent cost of providing care increase effective at the start of the state fiscal year, July 1.

Robert L. Parker
Executive Director
NewBridge Services, Inc.
Pompton Plains