Union boss unhappy with Christie’s call for state employees to work Monday

Chris Christie encouraged those who didn’t have to be in work today to stay home as New Jersey recovers from Hurricane Irene.

But barring dangerous roads or other obstacles, state employees were expected to show up — much to the chagrin of Communications Workers of America state director Hetty Rosenstein.

Rosenstein wanted the guv to excuse all non-essential state employees today, as the Star-Ledger reports. She said Christie sent a mixed message to state employees who may have faced hazardous conditions getting to work.

“I’m not saying that we’re not going to be understanding of people who can’t get to work when I’m telling people ‘If you don’t have to go to work, don’t.’ But on the other hand… I don’t want to just close state government,” Christie explained. “I think that’s a really bad thing to do in the aftermath of this problem.”

You be the judge; was that a mixed message? What should Christie have done?