SERVING PUBLIC EMPLOYEES IN CAMDEN COUNTY SINCE 1935

Council #10 Hot Issues -

The Winter 2011-2012 Edition of "The Workforce", Council #10's newsletter is now available. (1/5/12) (Past Issues of the Workforce)

February is Black History Month - Discover Local History

A series of five, full-length podcasts will premier each week in February on the website "Pathways to Freedom". These podcasts tell the stories of historic Camden County sites, and can be combined to create a complete audio driving tour. Each entertaining narrative is approximately 5 minutes in length and pulls listeners in with engaging sound effects and audio transitions. The series was created by Camden County and the South Jersey Tourism Corporation.

This About Sums It Up

From the Star-Ledger (2/1/12)

"We Are Wisconsin" Submits Over A Million Signatures to Recall Governor

Angry Wisconsin voters submitted more than one million signed petitions to recall Republican Governor Scott Walker, the organizers of the recall drive announced. The petitions are nearly double the amount needed to force a recall vote. Organizers say they submitted the boxes of petitions for Walker to the Government Accountability Board on January 17. "The collection of more than one million signatures represents a crystal clear indication of how strong the appetite is to stop the damage and turmoil that Scott Walker has caused Wisconsin," Ryan Lawler, board member for United Wisconsin, said in a statement.

Protests against Walker's tenure broke out last year after the first-term governor spearheaded a bill to limit the power of teacher and other public sector unions. The number of signatures required to trigger a recall election for the governor is 540,208, which is 25 percent of the number of votes cast during the 2010 elections. The number of petitions nearly equals the number of people - 1.12 million - who voted for Walker in 2010.

Walker told The Associated Press that he has always assumed they would get the 540,000 signatures they need and says he wants it to happen sooner rather than later. Walker says he believes he will prevail in any election, no matter his Democratic opponent.

Despite the Governor’s comments on seeking a speedy election, Republicans recently won a court order requiring the Government Accountability Board, which is responsible for counting signatures, to check for duplicate and fake signatures. Board officials said they will accomplish that by entering each name into a database. That painstaking process will put off the election at least until late spring according to the Wall Street Journal. Democrats say Walker is trying to delay any possible election for as long as possible.

Six recall votes of Wisconsin legislators were held this past summer and two members lost their seats to Democratic challengers, reducing the Republican majority. The group United Wisconsin says it will continue to target additional members of the legislature for recall. (2/1/12)

Walko Addresses Camden County Retired Employee Association

Council #10 President Karl Walko was the featured speaker at the January 26 meeting of the Camden County Retired Employees Association (CCREA). Walko spoke to a packed room on the impact on retiree benefits of the recent State legislation as well as recent deicisions by County officials. He also gave them an update on issues facing current employees. CCREA was formed in 1994 by former Camden County employees and is open to retired county and municipal employees in Camden County. Their monthly luncheon meetings provide a chance for socializing with former co-workers as well as information of interest to retirees. Council #10 will pay the first year's dues of any retiring Council #10 member interested in joining CCREA. For more information on the organization, contact the Council #10 office. (2/4/12)

President Karl Walko preparing to address the CCREA on Jan. 26

Member of the Year - Linda VanFossen

Each year in December, Council #10 selects one of its members as its “Member of the Year”. The Member of the Year award was created to recognize members that made an exceptional effort to improve their work place or to support fellow members. Our intent is to spotlight their service as an example for others.
The selection is made by the Council #10 Officers from nominations received.
The 2011 selection is Linda Van Fossen. Linda has worked for Camden County since October 1990, starting and remaining in the County Pension office. She enjoys her position saying, “I enjoy working with employees. Everyone I work with is nice to me. They all seem grateful for the services this office provides and my help in guiding them through the retirement process.” She views herself as “friendly and helpful” and believes her work responsibilities are a good match for her personality. She admitted 2011 was extremely difficult because of the layoffs and the extraordinary number of retirements. “It broke my heart to see so many of my friends go, she said. “I tried to treat everyone with the respect they deserve. I feel like they were part of my family. In fact, my family has personal experience with the impact of a layoff. My husband was laid off from his employer after 25 years and had to start over in a new career.”
In reflecting on how she got through this year, Linda expressed gratitude for the support of her co-workers saying she needed their help to keep her sane.
Her nomination stated, “It takes a very special person to care so much for fellow employees, to be willing to give so much of herself in order to help someone else. She is truly a gem and never once complained about how overwhelming it was for her, and for those she enlisted to assist her in providing our employees with as much information as humanly possible. She was focused on those affected by the mass layoffs and wanted them to know someone cared. She was their rock, their sounding board and their "complaint department" all wrapped up in one.” (12/21/11)

Application Packets Now Available for Henry J. Dunn, III $500 Scholarships

Applications are now available for the 2012 Henry J. Dunn, III (Council #10) scholarships. The scholarship program has been expanded to allow students of technical and trade schools to apply this year. Applications are available through high school guidance offices throughout Camden County, by contacting the Council #10 office and can also be downloaded from this site. If you have questions, please contact the Council #10 office. (12/2/11)

Franklin D. Roosevelt's Warning About Today's Republicans

(11/19/11)

Arbitrator Issues Award in County Furlough Grievance

Arbitrator Richard Gwin issued his award concerning the 2011 County furloughs case. The award is as follows:

1. There shall be no further furloughs for the remainder of 2011.
2. To compensate each employee still on the payroll who has already been furloughed, the County shall create a paid leave bank (hereafter “PLB”), consisting of seven (7) days of paid leave, and there will be no limitation on the carryover of days. Specifically, any carryover restrictions that are applicable to paid vacation and personal leave days will not be applicable to PLB days.
3. Beginning November 1, 2011, and for the duration of their employment with the County, employees may use PLB days subject to operational needs. PLB days may be used in conjunction with any other paid leave days. PLB days shall be approved in the same manner in which vacation days are approved. County approval for the use of and scheduling of PLB days shall not be unreasonably denied.
4. PLB days may not be cashed out at the separation of employment, but there is no time limit upon their usage.
5. Nothing in this Award shall be construed as a waiver of the parties’ respective positions about the negotiability of unpaid leave days or furloughs, or of the claim that unilaterally imposed furloughs or unpaid leave days violate provisions of the parties’ Collective Negotiations Agreements.
6. This Award shall resolve all issues in the above arbitration and the Unfair Practice Charge docketed as C0-2011-298, which shall be withdrawn by the Union as moot.

(10/27/11)

So Tell Me Why You Expect the Courier-Post to Deliver Fair Reporting on Public Worker Issues.......

Gannett, the media giant that owns 23 television stations and 82 newspapers, including USA Today and the Courier-Post notified its employees that for the third year in a row, they would get no raises and would have to take a week off without pay. The memo to employees noted that the two top executives would take a commensurate reduction in pay. Some 32,000 workers were forced into furloughs to save approximately $17 million for Gannett. But two months later the two top executives were given bonuses of $3 million and awarded stock options and deferred pay totaling as much as $17 million. (the full story). So why would anyone expect an organization that could so callously stick it to their workers have sympathy for public employees?

Update (New York Times 10/23/11): Craig A. Dubow resigned as Gannett’s chief executive. His short six-year tenure was, by most accounts, a disaster. Gannett’s stock price declined to about $10 a share from a high of $75 the day after he took over; the number of employees at Gannett plummeted to 32,000 from about 52,000, resulting in a remarkable diminution in journalistic boots on the ground at the 82 newspapers the company owns. Never a standout in journalism performance, the company strip-mined its newspapers in search of earnings, leaving many communities with far less original, serious reporting.

Given that legacy, it was about time Mr. Dubow was shown the door, right? Not in the current world we live in. Not only did Mr. Dubow retire under his own power because of health reasons, he got a mash note from Marjorie Magner, a member of Gannett’s board, who said without irony that “Craig championed our consumers and their ever-changing needs for news and information.” But the board gave him far more than undeserved plaudits. Mr. Dubow walked out the door with just under $37.1 million in retirement, health and disability benefits. That comes on top of a combined $16 million in salary and bonuses in the last two years. And in case you thought they were paying up just to get rid of a certain way of doing business — slicing and dicing their way to quarterly profits — Mr. Dubow was replaced by Gracia C. Martore, the company’s president and chief operating officer. She was Mr. Dubow’s steady accomplice in working the cost side of the business, without finding much in the way of new revenue. She has already pocketed millions in bonuses and will now be in line for even more.

(10/23/11)

Union Supported WE ARE OHIO Wins Fight for Public Worker Rights

In a historic event, Ohio voters struck down a law which would  have restricted the rights of public workers in Ohio to bargain collectively. Senate Bill 5, passed by the legilsature and signed by the governor earlier his year was repealed by voters on November 8 by a 62% to 38% majority. The bill would have outlawed strikes by public employees, required government workers to pay at least 15% of their health care premiums and pay 10% of their salaries toward their pension, replace raises based on seniority with a merit pay system, and allow management to impose its last offer as a three-year contract if the two sides reach impasse." The bill would have limited collective bargaining with public employees to wages, hours and terms of employment as well as placing a limit on vacation and sick time. The most insidious provision of the bill also happened to be the thing that betrays the virulently anti-labor and political motives of supporters. The bill would have prohibited government worker donations from going directly to union political action committees, without the worker's approval, and would banned imposition of "fair-share" fees on non-union members.

WE ARE OHIO, a citizen-driven, community-based, bipartisan coalition that came together to stop Senate Bill 5, thanked Ohio voters for their historic and overwhelming support of collective bargaining rights in what is thought to be the first election in the country on the issue, stating in a press release, "Today’s vote shows middle class Ohioans wanted to send a clear and emphatic message to our leaders and our nation that Ohioans don't turn our backs on the people who watch ours. This vote indicates Ohioans not only support public employees but they also understand that they have been problem solvers and have done so by making more than $1 billion in sacrifices in just the last three years."

(Updated 11/9/11)

Council #10 Joins Other New Jersey Public Employee Unions in Pension Lawsuit

Council #10 has joined a lawsuit filed September 1 by public employee unions across the state in response to the June legislation altering pension and health benefits for state and local government workers. Included in the lawsuit are all major public employee unions including those representing police, fire, teachers, as well as white collar and blue collar workers.

CWA Area Director Hetty Rosenstein issued the following statement on behalf of the CWA:

“New Jersey made a promise to its public workers: work hard, serve the people of New Jersey, and take a salary that is less than what you might earn in the private sector – and you can look forward to a secure and stable retirement. It is not lavish: the average state pension, including managers, is $23,000 a year; and just $14,000 for local government workers. But hundreds of thousands of public service professionals planned their lives around that deal."

“The State of New Jersey, however, has not lived up to its end of the bargain. For over a decade, state workers contributed billions of dollars of their hard-earned wages into the pension system while Trenton skipped its payments and piled up I.O.U.’s. Now, Trenton politicians want workers and retirees to pay the price for this irresponsibility by eliminating decades worth of future cost of living adjustments for state workers, even while needed pension payments are delayed for another seven years . The result will be slashed benefits and an ever increasing mountain of pension debt."

“Retirees and long-term public workers, who in many cases have devoted their entire working lives to the State of New Jersey, can’t go back and choose a different path. They earned every penny of their pensions, and if Trenton politicians won’t keep their promise, we have no choice but to go to court to force them to uphold their end of the bargain.” (9/2/11)

Facts on the Public Pension Lawsuit:

The lawsuit alleges that portions of the recent legislation violate both the United States and New Jersey Constitutions and asks the Federal Court to enjoin the implementation of those provisions. Public employees in New Jersey have rights to certain pension and health care benefits that have been promised, for which employees have fulfilled all requirements, and which by law cannot be reduced.

The lawsuit challenges:

1. The suspension of cost-of-living increases for current and future retirees because it violates the United States and New Jersey Constitutions by interfering with the contractual and property rights of current and future retirees to receive the pension benefits they had been promised and for which they are entitled.

2. The increase in pension contributions for current employees because it violates the United States and New Jersey Constitutions by interfering with the contractual and property rights of current employees to make pension contributions at the levels previously established by statute.

3. The State’s continued underfunding of the pension system to the extent that it has caused the unconstitutional suspension of cost-of-living increases and increases in employee pension contributions.

4. The delegation to Pension Committees of the authority to change benefit levels and eligibility requirements in ways that would unconstitutionally interfere with the vested, contractual and property rights of public employees and retirees.

Plan to Elliminate Camden City Police Force Issued

A plan to eliminate the City Police Department and establish a new County Police Department was issued in early October. Preparation of the plan was authorized in August by the City and the County.

County officials have proposed a countywide police department but to this date only on municipality, Camden, has shown interest. Noting the many reasons why the takeover makes little sense, Council #10 President Karl Walko spoke on behalf of current police department employees at both the City Council meeting and County Freeholder meeting in August when the creation of a plan was considered.

In order for implementation to occur, a final plan must be approved by the City, the County and the State of New Jersey (Department of Community Affairs). Council #10 will oppose adoption of the plan if and when it is brought to City Council and the Board of Freeholders for approval.

A review of the plan and comments by Camden County Freeholder Director Cappelli reveal that the plan will be significantly revised before being considered for approval. Cappelli stated, ““The plan is still a work in progress. There needs to be due diligence on both sides—the county and the city – in reviewing this plan. There was not enough time within our deadline to sufficiently study Camden City’s finances and what it is currently spending in total for its existing force. All elements of the plan need to be studied further.” You can read into Cappelli’s statement that the plan was too expensive and that ways to reduce the cost will be examined. In fact, the plan required an 88% increase in the number of department employees but did not include any consideration of the means for funding the new department. No timeline was provided by Cappelli for completion of the discussions or creation of a final plan. In response to questions from Council #10 at the August Freeholders meeting, Cappelli said that savings will come from reducing the benefits provided to police officers. It is assumed his (and the County’s) intent was the same for non-officers in the new department.

In response to questions at the October Freeholder meeting as to who would pay for the new department if the State of New Jersey reduced or eliminated funding, Cappelli said that the County would not enter an agreement unless there was a long-term commitment by the State to funding. When asked his defininition of "long-term", he indicated it would be addressed in the discussions between the City, State and County.

(10/28/11)

Gov. Christie Signs Pension/Health Benefits Bill, New Law to Take Effect Immediately

The Sweeney bill to increase employee pension and health benefit contributions and reduce pension benefits passed the full Assembly on June 23. The bill became law with the signature of Gov. Christie, on June 28. While the bill takes effect immediately, Section 81 of the bill permits a delayed implementation of the health care premium share for “necessary administrative actions for collection”. Further, such contributions cannot be applied retroactively. (Summary of new law) (NJ Division of Pensions & Benefits Explanation of Legislation) (NJ Department of Community Affairs Notice to Employers). The initial pension contribution increase will take effect with the first payroll check to be paid on or after October 1, 2011.

The reaction of all public employee unions was reflected in the statement by the Communications Workers of America President Larry Cohen following the Assembly’s  vote, which denied bargaining rights to nearly half a million public workers: “This is a dark today for workers’ rights as the race to the bottom continues.  We thank those who stood up and voted “No” despite the pressure.  We will never forget them. We will also never forget those who moved New Jersey back fifty years,  stripping bargaining rights from public workers and imposing health care  cuts that will destroy living standards for hundreds of thousands of families.”

Gov. Christie was quick to describe the vote as a bi-partisan. His office released the following: "Demonstrating once again that New Jersey is leading the way with bipartisan solutions for the toughest challenges facing states today, Governor Christie secured final legislative passage tonight for landmark pension and health benefit reform. The reforms passed this evening in the Assembly after receiving passage in the Senate on Monday. The fundamental reforms, passed with bipartisan support from Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, will shake up New Jersey’s out-of-date, antiquated and increasingly expensive pension and health benefit systems. “Together, we’re showing New Jersey is serious about providing long-term fiscal stability for our children and grandchildren. We are putting the people first and daring to touch the third rail of politics in order to bring reform to an unsustainable system,” Governor Chris Christie said. “I want to thank Senate President Sweeney and Speaker Oliver for putting aside politics, committing themselves to reform and remaining unwilling to settle for anything less than the real, viable solutions New Jerseyans have been demanding.”

Public employee unions and the majority of the Democrats in the legislature are widely critical of the Democratic support which came from members of the Senate and Assembly aligned with Camden County political boss George Norcross and Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo. Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union), who voted against the bill, said, "Some people say this is about the soul of the Democratic Party, I agree." Those voting in favor of the in bill in the Assembly included Paul Moriarty (D-4), Dominic DiCicco (R-4), Angel Fuentes (D-5), Gilbert (Whip) Wilson (D-5), Louis Greenwald (D-6), Pamela Lampitt (D-6), Jack Connors (D-7), and Herb Conaway (D-7). Those voting in favor of the bill in the Senate included Fred Madden (D-4), Donald Norcross (D-5), James Beach (D-6) and Diane Allen (D-7). (Updated 6/30/11)

Star-Ledger Video: "George Norcross tales dubbed "bogeyman" bunk are rooted in reality."

Former Gov. Cody Pokes Fun at George Norcross in New Video

Former Governor Dick Cody lampooned George Norcross in a video played at the annual Trenton Correspondents Dinner on May 17. The video was subsequently posted on YouTube. For anyone interested in New Jersey politics, the video is worth a look. (5/21/11)

Are Government Employees Overcompensated? - Recent Studies Show Government Employees Receive Less Pay Than Private Sector Employees

Recent studies have shown public employees (both in New Jersey and nationwide are paid less than their private sector counterparts. An April 2010 nationwide study by the "National Institute on Retirement Security, Center for State & Local Government Excellence concluded that when factoring for the higher education level of public workers, state employees earn 11% less and local government workers 12% less than comparable private sector workers.

An Economic Policy Institute, July 30, 2010, briefing paper noted 57% of New Jersey full-time public sector workers hold at least a four-year college degrees compared to 40% of full-time private sector employees. New Jersey state and local governments pay college-educated labor on average 10% less than private employers. The paper states, "considering both the cost of employer-provided benefits and direct pay, public sector workers in New Jersey have very similar total compensation as they would earn in the private sector."

The National Institute on Retirement Security report concludes, "If the goal is to compensate state and local sector employees in a manner comparable to those in the private sector, the data do not call for reductions in state and local wages. If anything, they call for increases." (11/8/10)

Negotiations Ongoing

Negotiations are ongoing for the County Library Support Staff and Supervisory Units, the City of Camden Supervisory, Non-supervisory and Crossing Guard Units, the Camden County Prosecutor's Office Clerical Staff Unit, the Health Services Center Regular and Crafts Units and the Winslow Township Unit. (Updated 10/18/11)