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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)

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President Karl R. Walko

Message from the President -

Dear Friends:

I recognize the frustration felt by members over the lack of progress in the negotiations with Camden County. After more than 15 months, it's time to get going. Nevertheless, it takes two sides to come to an agreement. Council #10 will not agree just to agree. To help break the logjam, I addressed the Freeholders at their meeting on April 23. The following are my remarks to the Board:

"Director Cappelli and Board Members:

Council #10 recognizes what’s going on in the world surrounding us. We also recognize the concern of taxpayers, especially with property taxes. However, Council #10 represented employees cannot be held responsible for the current state of affairs anymore than the Board of Freeholders can be held responsible. We both must face the problem together.

Furthermore, Council #10 represented employees are not responsible for a system of taxation that has established New Jersey as 1st in per capita property taxes in the nation but as 36th in income tax as a percent of income. In a measure of progressivity of major state and local taxes, New Jersey ranks 40th. In the supposed tax haven of Delaware, 51.3% of revenue comes from income tax while in New Jersey, only 21.6% comes from income tax. The result is an overreliance on the taxation of lower income homeowners. While it’s not our fault, we recognize the problem and share the problem created by this system. We pay property taxes too! One final note on this issue, in a measure of state and local taxes combined as a percent of resident’s income, New Jersey ranks 43rd. Clearly, the taxation issue is primarily about property taxes.

We recognized this problem when we cooperated with Camden County in moving to a new health insurance carrier which reduced the cost of health benefits for County employees by $1.1M in real dollars in 2009. Our idea to save even more was discarded as impractical but we didn’t think so and still don’t think so and we are prepared to work with Camden County and the other unions representing Camden County employees in further exploration of this option.

We also recognize that promises are made to be broken. Many of our employees spent their career serving the public and now have to worry about whether they will receive the pension they were promised. While acknowledging that one’s view of fairness is often colored by where one sits, we thought it ironic that public employers complain of increases in pension costs when the reality is that there were NO costs for a number of years and the “additional” costs were really a phased-in reestablishment of pension contributions for employers.

We also recognize that words are cheap……especially when they are not backed up with money. As polite people say, “Money talks and bull crap walks.” While the Board has trumpeted the downsizing of County government and has repeatedly thanked its employees for maintaining a high level of service with fewer co-workers…and for all that they do on a daily basis to serve the residents of the County; however, when it comes to really doing something to recognize their service, all that seems to be forgotten.

We look around at other South Jersey counties where downsizing has not already occurred and where similar changes in health benefits were not made. We look at the fact that we were considering agreeing to health co-pays for all employees…something that is by far the exception and not the rule in surrounding counties and we recognize the current proposals made on behalf of the Board of Freeholders for what they are……an attempt to eviscerate the agreement between the Board of Freeholders and its current and future employees and an attempt to steamroller an agreement. We think its fair to ask why our employees shouldn’t be compared to employees in the surrounding counties when we are regularly told how appreciated those employees are and how vital they are to maintaining services.

We are willing to work with Camden County in addressing the short-term financial problems we mutually face. But we are not prepared to cave-in to demands that have nothing to do with this year’s economic problems or next year’s or even the following year’s.

If the current proposals remain on the table, we expect a long hot summer and maybe even a long hot fall. We are prepared to reach an agreement. We have a track record of reaching agreements. But we are not afraid of to fight. We are currently planning what action may be required away from the negotiations table. We are reviewing and will review every decision and every expenditure by the Board under a microscope for its impact in negotiations. We will stick up for our employees in the press and with the public. Obviously, a fight will be destructive to the relationship between the Board and its employees. Our hope is that you will recognize the current proposals for what they are and direct the negotiations on a more productive path."

***

As I noted in my comments to the Board, Council #10 is planning what action may be needed away from the table. We will need your assistance and cooperation in any such action. Its a truism that a union is only as strong as its members. When we reach out to you, I know you will respond.

Fraternally,
Karl R. Walko
President

4/24/09

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