CWA Statement On Ratifying Executive Branch Contract With State of New Jersey

(Trenton, NJ) – The Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO has ratified its Executive Branch contract with the State of New Jersey. The Tentative Agreement was completed on March 4, 2019, and Union members completed ratification of the Contract on March 20, 2019.  The contract was ratified 96% yes, 4% no.    The CWA State Worker Contract is the largest collective bargaining agreement in the State of New Jersey in both the public and private sector.

The Term of the Agreement is from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2023.  The Agreement includes across the board increases of 2% each year, all Step increments, bonuses paid to those not receiving increments, and a new health plan that changes the way employees pay premium share from the “Chapter 78 schedule” passed by the Legislature in 2011, to a percentage of pay, lowering employee health benefit premium share for the first time in 8 years, and providing significant savings to the State of New Jersey at the same time.  The contract also includes changes that streamline, protect and articulate due process rights, job security, and other language matters determining terms and conditions of employment.

The Union side of the Bargaining Committee was:  John Rose, President Local 1031, Patrick Kavanagh, President Local 1032, Gaye Palmer, President Local 1033, Adam Liebtag, President Local 1036, Ken McNamara, President Local 1037, Shawn Ludwig, President Local 1038, Carolyn Wade, President Local 1040, Dennis Trainor, Vice President District 1, Hetty Rosenstein, New Jersey Director, Steven P. Weissman, Attorney, Weissman & Mintz.

“We are proud to announce that our contract was overwhelmingly ratified,” said CWA NJ Director Hetty Rosenstein. “It is a fair agreement. Once again, we’ve proven that Collective Bargaining and Workers Rights are at the core of American Democracy.  When the parties negotiate in good faith the results are always better, more long lasting, and of greater value than when they are not bargained.  I want to thank our incredibly dedicated Local Presidents and Dennis Trainor, the Vice President of District 1 – the greatest District in the greatest Union. I also wish to thank our brilliant attorney, Steve Weissman, for his extraordinary work. And I must acknowledge the good faith and hard work of the Management Team representing Governor Phil Murphy, including the Staff of the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations and James McGovern and Jennifer Roselli from the law firm of Genova Burns.   This Contract could not have been successfully negotiated without the deep commitment and the long hours of everyone involved.“