Two Public Worker Unions Ratify Contract with NJ

New Jersey officials say two smaller state worker unions have ratified new contracts.

The state's deal with the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers and the Service Employees International Union were tentatively settled last month and ratified Thursday.

The four-year deal for the roughly 5,000 workers is retroactive to July 1, 2011.

The workers are to get no raise for last year or 2012. They're to get 1 percent pay hikes on July 1, 2013 and 1.75 percent raises in 2014.

Christie says he wants other state employee unions to agree to similar deals.

Talks with a dozen other unions of state workers are under way.

Their deals also expired in June 2011.

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