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.

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