Council #10 Hot Issues:
Council #10 Large Unit Salary Scale Now Available on Line
Henry J. Dunn Golf Tournament Scheduled for Thursday, September 24. Information now available!
New Jersey Paid Family Leave Insurance Program Starts July 1
On July 1, New Jersey becomes only the third U.S. state to offer workers paid leave for the care of family members. Almost all workers in New Jersey will be eligible for up to six consecutive weeks or 42 intermittent days of paid leave for the care of children, spouses and domestic or civil union partners with a serious health condition or for bonding with a newborn or newly adopted child. All employees covered under the New Jersey Unemployment Compensation Law are covered by the program if they meet other eligibility requirements. The program, funded entirely by worker payroll deductions, provides a weekly benefit equal to two-thirds of the claimant's average weekly wage up to a maximum of $546. Additional information is available at the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development website and on the "Forms & Brochures" page on the Council #10 website. (Application for Benefits) (6/27/09)
State Union Negotiations Results in Potential Elimination of Involuntary Furlough Rule
Negotiations between the Communications Workers of America and the State of New Jersey resulted in an agreement on June 4 that includes a joint request by the State and the CWA to the Civil Service Commission to rescind the current involuntary furlough rule "as soon as possible" following the ratification of the agreement. The recently adopted rule faced legal challenges by the CWA, AFSCME, the State PBA and Council #10. If the Civil Service Commission agrees, the elimination of the rule means that state, county and local government will be restricted in seeking involuntary furloughs and that union challenges to involuntary furlough plans will have a greater likelihood of success. It is expected that the League of Municipalities will vigorously oppose the rule elimination. The rule hung like a dark cloud over public employee negotiations because it allowed employers to reduce the pay of employees through furloughs with little justification and despite any provisions of a collective agreement. A letter from CWA District 1 Vice President Chris Shelton to members explains the full CWA-State of NJ agreement. (6/6/09)
Council #10 Political Action Committee Gets a Rat!
The Council #10 Political Action Committee now has a fifteen feet tall inflatable rat to use as needed in fighting for Council #10 members. The rat saw its debut outside Camden City Council's meeting on April 28 to promote Council #10 fight with the City and more specifically Chief Operating Officer Davis. (5/14/09)
Camden City Employees Rally to Protest COO Davis
City employees marched through City streets, across the Ben Franklin Bridge Plaza and into the April 14 City Council meeting to show their displeasure with the City's COO Theodore Davis. Leaders of police and firefighter unions as well as Council #10 President Walko spoke of individual issues as well as their mutual disgust with their treatment by Davis. Council President Angel Fuentes promised to address the complaints with the COO and provide a response. Union leaders promised to return at the next Council meeting on April 28 to get an answer. The rally was reported both in the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Courier-Post. (4/15/09)
Camden COO Listed as "Highest Paid State Employee"
Camden Chief Operating Officer Theodore Davis is the highest paid New Jersey state employee with a base salary of $220,000. The salary does not include the State pension of $105,750 he receives as a retired Superior Court judge. In a story published on March 26, the Courier-Post noted Davis "takes home more base pay than
top doctors at a state psychiatric hospital, more than the chief justice of the state Supreme Court and
more than the commissioner of the state Department of Community Affairs." Council #10 President Karl Walko was quoted in the same story, "We have layoffs, we have cutbacks and we even have arbitration settlements where (the city) says
they don't even have small amounts to pay these things. He answers to
"He answers to
basically nobody and makes these huge dollars."
-Karl Walko |
basically nobody
and makes these huge dollars." Council #10 has had repeated differences with COO Davis over both his actions and his attitude towards elected officials, City employees and even the residents of the City. While understanding the financial difficulties faced by the City, we do not understand his lack of basic respect, his reluctance to discuss problems and the stonewalling in response to our requests for information. Further, we do not understand how someone with such limited background in government administration and urban redevelopment deserves the salary Davis receives. Former COO Randy Primas earned $45,000 less. Davis told the Courier, " [The] salary increase from Primas was justified because "I bring more to the table." He
referenced his experience as a tax lawyer, judge and city resident.
Primas, also a Camden native, held a bachelor's degree in business, served on City Council and
became the city's mayor in 1981. He left his third term as mayor to head the state Department of
Community Affairs (the department overseeing local government throughout the state).
Also in question is the manner in which Davis' salary and benefits were set. Council #10 has requested but has not yet received information from the New Jersey Economic Recovery Board since the legislation that established the COO's position requires that they set the COO's salary and benefits. (NJ Municipal Rehabilitation and Recovery Act-Section 7 of P.L.2002, c.43 (C.52:27BBB-7) states, "Subject to the approval of the State
Treasurer, the salary, benefits and costs of the chief operating
officer shall be fixed by the board and adjusted from time to time as the board deems appropriate.") A review of minutes of board meetings from the time of Davis' appointment do not show any action by the board related to Davis' salary. (3/30/09)
Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial Supports Council #10 in Camden fight
The Philadelphia Inquirer came out in support of the rights of Council #10 and its members in a fight over layoff procedures with City of Camden Chief Operating Officer Theodore Davis in a November 7 editorial. The editorial stated, " [Davis] should sit down with the union and see if they can negotiate how the layoffs will be handled. If he won't, Gov. Corzine, who appointed Davis to the post, should intervene." (11/14/08)
Negotiations Ongoing
Negotiations are ongoing in the Camden County Large, Blue Collar, Crafts, Mosquito Commission & Supervisory Unit, the County Library Support Staff and Supervisory Units, Pine Hill Borough, as well as the City of Camden Supervisory and Non-supervisory Units and the Camden City Free Library Supervisory and Non-supervisory Units. (3/30/09)
Stay Updated with Council #10 Email
Sign up for Council #10 email (left column this page) and recieve the Council #10 newsletter and information on issues that affect you delivered directly to your email account.