NEA-NM President Sharon Morgan said she was "disappointed" after hearing a state district judge wouldn't approve a request for a preliminary injunction to stop the State of New Mexico from collecting additional pension contributions. Morgan said NEA-NM and other public employee unions involved in filing for the injunction are now investigating next steps.
Judge William Lang rejected the argument that public employees would suffer "irreparable harm." Legislation passed during the 2009 sixty-day legislative session increased employee payroll contributions by 1.5 percent of their salaries and it will reduce payments by the same amount for the state over the next two years. Employees who make more than $20,000 per year will carry the weight of the increases. The measure passed by the state legislature was intended to help save New Mexico $43 million dollars annually.
Public employee unions argued in their brief filed in June of 2009 that the increases were unconstitutional. They are of the opinion that the increases should have been the responsibility of the state, not public employees and educators.
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