Two of New Jersey's largest unions say they will sue  Gov. Chris Christie over his plan to slash the state's pension contributions.

Governor Chris Christie announces his solution to New Jersey's budget shortfall
Governor Chris Christie announces his solution to New Jersey's budget shortfall (Governor's Office/Tim Larsen)
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Communications Workers of America State Director Hetty Rosenstein announced the union's intentions Wednesday, saying Christie is breaking the law by cutting payments.

“Governor Christie is not only breaking his word, but he’s also breaking the law in failing to make these pension payments,” Hetty Rosenstein, state director of the CWA., told the Star-Ledger." She described the governor's action as "immoral" that would put retirees "in poverty through no fault of their own."

New Jersey Education Association President Wendell Steinhauer described the governor's decision to to cut the state's pension payments by about $2.5 billion over the next year as an "illegal, irresponsible and reckless proposal." In a statement on the NJEA website Steinhauer said his organization "will pursue every legal avenue to stop this reckless and illegal attack on working-class New Jersey residents."

Christie and lawmakers agreed in 2012 to ramp up contributions over seven years as part of a pension reform measure that also requires higher contributions from employees.

The governor has been saying this year that the deal did not go far enough.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report

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