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Council #10 Hot Issues:

Summer 2010 Workforce Newsletter Available

One Year After Passage of NJ Family Leave Insurance- Program Proves a Success!

New Jersey Family Leave Insurance, signed into law last year by Governor Jon Corzine, celebrated its first anniversary on July 1. Concerns voiced by the business community at the time of its passage have proved overstated.

Here are the most recent statistics from the NJ Department of Labor:

 

  • Between July 1, 2009 and July 1, 2010, approximately 26,000 people benefited from the program.
  • 86% of the beneficiaries were women between the ages of 25 and 44.
  • 80% of claims were to allow parents to bond with newborn or newly adopted children.
  • 77% of beneficiaries were employed in the private sector.
  • The average duration of leave was 4.6 weeks, less than the 5.5 weeks expected when the law was enacted.
  • 85% of those who applied were approved for leave. Denials were predominantly due to an insufficient relationship between the worker and family member needing care (parent, spouse - yes; great aunt, step-uncle - no).

Family Leave Insurance benefits in New Jersey are funded entirely by employee payroll deductions based on a formula adjusted annually according to the taxable wage base. For this year, the payroll deduction was .012% of wages earned. The maximum amount anyone was required to contribute was $35.64. The weekly benefit rate is 2/3 of average weekly wages, with a maximum of $561. Employers with fewer than 50 workers are not required to hold open the employee's job. (7/6/10)

 

Council #10 Activity Committee Returns to Radio City Music Hall Holiday Show

The Council #10 Activities Committee has planned a return trip to New York's Radio City Music Hall to see the 2010 Holiday Show on Sunday, November 21, 2010. Tickets are first come first served so reserve your's early. (Info)

Council #10 PAC Ads Placed in Community Papers

Council #10's Political Action Committee has begun placing ads supporting the cause of Council #10 and its members in community weeklies. The first ad ran in the "Retrospect" and "Record-Breeze" papers in early June. (6/15/10)

The Real Story on NJ Public Employee Pensions

Pushing the need for reform of New Jersey’s pension system in his budget address, Governor Chris Christie said, “One state retiree, 49 years old, paid, over the course of his entire career, a total of $124,000 towards his retirement pension and health benefits. What will we pay him?  $3.3 million in pension payments over his life and nearly $500,000 for health care benefits—a total of $3.8m on a $120,000 investment.   Is that fair?”

 

The “fairness” of public employee pensions in New Jersey is the heart of a huge dispute between public employees and those who claim, like Governor Christie, the system is unfair to taxpayers. In making his claim, the Governor cited the most extreme example to make his case (And one that legitimately needs to be addressed.) However, in considering substantial reform it makes sense to keep in mind typical public employees, for example, one that works 30 years and retires at age 62 when earning $50,000. This typical employee in the Public Employee Retirement System or PERS (the fund serving most employees in state and local government) would receive a pension of around $27,000 per year or less—depending on survivor beneficiary options. (Actually, the average “service” pension for county and municipal employees in PERS as of June 2009 was $10,989/year).....(the rest of the story) (6/22/10)

 

30,000 Rally in Trenton Against Christie Budget - Called Largest in State History

Council #10 members in front of State Capitol

Over 30,000 from across New Jersey rallied in front of the New Jersey State Capitol in what was estimated as the largest rally in state history. Speakers from the NJEA, CWA and community organizations spoke in opposition to the cuts in the Governor's proposed budget and the legislation sponsored by the Governor to destroy civil service and public sector unions. (Pictures) (Star-Ledger Video). (5/22/10)

 

City Employees Rally Against Furloughs

City employees outside City Hall

Camden City civilian employees rallied outside City Hall at lunchtime on May 5 against a proposed 26-day furlough (one per week for 26 weeks) scheduled to start on June 4. With signs marked "Equality", "Share the Pain-Who Else Gets 26-Days?, and "Why Work!" the employees encouraged fellow workers to join them in expressing their frustration that no one in City or State government seems to care about the impact the furloughs will have on their families and the residents of Camden. (confrontation with mayor) If the plan is implemented, employeese will lose 20% of their salary for the six month period (in addition to new health co-pays and the loss of health opt-out). A rally at the City Council meeting on May 11 at 5PM is planned. All City employees are encouraged to attend. (5/6/10)

Dues Increase Proposal Rejected by Council #10 Members

A proposed dues increase was rejected 108-101 at a Special General Membership Meeting on April 28. We thank those that came out in support of the proposal and will seek comments and suggestions from all members concerning the vote and future funding of union operations. (4/29/10)

Governor Signs Legislation Reducing Pensions & Benefits of Public Employees

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation on March 22 which reduces pensions and benefits of public employees in New Jersey. Public employee unions are still trying to sort out the full impact of the legislation; however, the pension changes address only employees enrolling in the pension system AFTER the effective date of the legislation. On the other hand, requirements for health benefit premium co-pays (a minimum of 1.5% of base salary) will impact current employees. A Q&A sheet concerning the impact of the legislation has been posted on the NJEA website. (Star-Ledger news report on signing) (3/25/10)

$15,500 in Council #10 Scholarships Awarded at March 23 Meeting

Thirty-one $500 scholarships were awarded to sons and daughters of Council #10 members at the March 23 General Membership Meeting. Pictures from the meeting are in our Photo Gallery. (Full list of award winners)(3/25/10)

Information Now Available for the 2010 Henry J. Dunn Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament

SAVE THE DATE!  This year's Henry J. Dunn Memorial Scholarship Tournament will be held on Thursday, September 16, 2010 at Valleybrook Country Club in Blackwood, New Jersey.  The 2010 golf tournament has a NEW TEE TIME of 11:30 a.m.  Information on the tournament, chinese auction and dinner are located in Forms & Brochures. (5/22/10)

 

New Jersey's pension crisis-How did we get here?

The Newark Star-Ledger has produced a video explaining in part how the problems with the pension fund were created. (3/25/10).

New Jersey's pension crisis-Was it an accident or totally predictable?

A look back through a February 22, 1995 editorial by Bob Herbert of the New York Times tells you all you need to know about the predictablility of today's crisis. Unfortunately, our current Republican governor again ignores the truth to get where he wants to go. (4/1/10)

Public Employee Unions File Court Challenge to Gov. Christie's Executive Order Banning Unions from Making Political Donations

Calling the governor’s order "completely illegal," Hetty Rosenstein, state director for the Communications Workers of America, said it violates the state constitution’s separation of powers provision, the federal constitution’s equal protection guarantees and union members’ First Amendment rights. "The governor cannot just issue a piece of paper and have it change the law," Rosenstein said. "The Legislature gets to legislate, not the governor."


In addition to the CWA, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the
International Federation of Professional and Technical Employees-Local 195 and the American Federation of Teachers are asking the state Appellate Division to stay the order. (2/25/10)

NJ PERC Issues Complaint in Council #10 Unfair Practice Charge

On January 26, 2010, the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) issued a "Complaint and Notice of Hearing" based on charges signed by Council #10's related to Camden County's negotiations ultimatum in October. The hearing, inititally scheduled for May 18 has been postponed. (updated 6/15/10)

Council #10 Night at the Phillies

Almost 200 Council #10 members and family attended the Philadelphia Phillies game on June 10 at Citizens Bank Park in South Philadelphia as part of Council #10's "Night at the Phillies". While the weather cooperated with one of the nicest evenings of the early summer, the Phillies lost to the Florida Marlins 2-0 in an old-fashioned pitching duel. Phillies hurler Roy Halladay lost to the Marlins and their starter Josh Johnson in a repeat of their match-up in Halladay's "perfect game" against the Marlins two weeks earlier. (6/15/10)

Camden Co. Deletes Residency Policy –

Citing the need to “carefully balance the need to safeguard and shield County employees from the current downturn in the real estate market”, the Board of Freeholders, at its meeting on January 21, 2010, passed a resolution deleting the existing residency policy from its policies and procedures. The policy required county employees to live within Camden County. The action is effective immediately. (1/24/10)

Negotiations Ongoing

Negotiations are ongoing in the Camden County Large, Blue Collar, Crafts & Mosquito Commission Units, 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.

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Karl Walko
President Karl R. Walko

 

Message from the President -

 

The Governor's "Toolkit" is A Wrecking Ball Aimed at Public Workers and Collective Bargaining                         

 

Dear Friends:

While cutting aid to municipalities in his first budget, Governor Christie promised to provide a toolkit to help towns maintain services without raising taxes. In May, Christie submitted 33 legislative proposals to Senate and Assembly leadership, asking them to sponsor and pass legislation to enact his “tool kit”. The tool kit proposal gaining the most attention is one that would cap increases in State and other government operations at 2.5% in any year. Other proposals would dismantle civil service protections, legislatively remove wage increases from bargaining, and legislatively empower any government employer to impose furloughs at any time without negotiations. When considered as a whole, it is apparent the Governor is aiming directly at public workers and their unions while attempting to divide residents from workers by citing them as the reason for high property taxes. In his dealings with unions, the Governor clearly intends to legislate rather than negotiate. These bills would set the Governor up for State negotiations next year and give dictatorial power to County and municipal governments at their bargaining tables with the ability to furlough and cap wages.

Here is a brief summary of the proposals:

2.5% Cap on Spending – If passed it would send to voters a Constitutional Amendment to cap State, County and Municipal spending increases at 2.5% each year.

Proposal on Temporary Layoffs / Furloughs – If passed it would allow government at all levels to impose temporary layoffs / furloughs at any time and in any way. The proposal would specifically remove furloughs from negotiation and would supersede court rulings requiring some furloughs to be negotiated. If passed, temporary layoffs would become a permanent budgeting tool regardless of an in-force contract.

Proposal on Civil Service Opt Out – If passed it would allow counties and municipalities to opt out of civil service by ordinance or referendum. In those that opt out, veterans’ preference would not be required; patronage and preference hiring and promotions would increase; fifteen sick days would not be required; seniority bumping would not be required.

Proposal on the Use of Sick Leave – If passed it would prohibit an employee from using more than 6 sick days in the last year of service before retirement without a doctor's note and would impose a fine of three days pay for every day of sick leave used without a doctor's verification.

Proposal on Revisions to Civil Service Regulations – If passed it would allow less senior employees to avoid bumping, displacing or bumping a more senior employee; cap carrying of vacation days from year to year; increase the definition of minor discipline to 30 day suspensions and eliminates appeal rights for employees who are disciplined for less than 30 days; bar

Proposal on Arbitration – If passed it would keep arbitrators from awarding any labor contract exceeding 2.5%, which includes all salaries, wages, vacation leave, and health insurance costs. This essentially means the employer and/or arbitrator would have to settle a contract with wage freezes any time there is a health insurance increase that eats up a 2.5% increase over the previous year.

Shared Services – If passed it would eliminate civil service protections when services are shared. When Local units decide to share services, law now requires the honoring of contracts, as well as bumping and other civil service protections.

Public employees across the state oppose these provisions recognizing them for what they are—a direct attack on public workers and their unions. It is expected that the proposals will be considered by the legislators after the budget is passed this month.

Fraternally,
Karl R. Walko
President

6/15/10

 

 

 

 

The full Gov. Christie "toolkit":

Toolkit Part 1

Toolkit Part 2

Toolkit Part 3


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