[SmithL]

This is only the first of government bankruptcies. Every city, county, and school district in the state is watching and taking notes.

[lexusppd]

Agreed. In NJ the municipal unions are breaking the towns and there will come a time when the pensions paid to retired workers will come to a screeching halt. Many say the Towns are powerless to do anything because of their need for the services provided. This is nonsense because the peoples ability to keep paying higher and higher property and other taxes in this State are not infinite.

Let them strike if that is what it takes. In the eye of the public when it is explained what the union demands will mean to the citizens the public image of the employees will sink. besides what will they do if they don't get their demands met? Where does a Fireman go to earn $100,000 plus a year if all the surrounding municipalities are in the same boat? Ditto with Policemen, Sanitation workers and the rest. faced with a cut in benefits and a smaller raise or no job at all which do you think they will ultimately choose?

I think I know.