NJ state employees protest governor's budget plan

TRENTON, N.J.

A union representing New Jersey government workers says it staged more than 20 lunch hour demonstrations outside state agencies Thursday to protest Gov. Chris Christie's proposed spending cuts.

Tom Palermo, president of Local 39 of the Communications Workers of America, says Christie's plan for layoffs will collapse the economy of downtown Trenton, which relies heavily on the patronage of state workers.

Christie's plan for cuts in state programs could result in as many as 1,300 job cuts next January.

The governor also says the state will skip a $3 billion contribution to the employee pension system this year.