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State Workers Contract Bargaining Update – 6/27/2023

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NJ STATE EXECUTIVE BRANCH BARGAINING UPDATE

June 26, 2023

One day longer, One day stronger

Our CWA Bargaining Team has continued to meet with the State to try to reach a tentative agreement before our current contract expiration of June 30th. CWA has met with the State for 20 sessions, including several sessions throughout late May and early June.

As we know, our current contract remains in full force if we do not have a new ratified agreement before that date, but our goal has been to reach settlement by that date if possible.

We are writing to say we will need more time to get to a complete package that our Bargaining Team would recommend to members. From day one, CWA committed that we are not done with bargaining until we address every issue which members indicated is a priority in the best way possible. We are not there yet. We know that we can do better than what the State is offering, and we will continue negotiating until we have a contract that adequately addresses the needs of our members.

CWA made large and comprehensive demands over wages, telework, and other important issues. We took strong positions, and we are sticking to them. Our members set clear priorities for this contract: significant wage growth that breaks away from the patterns of the past eight years, protect the telework program and ensure that the program is equitable and enforceable, and protect against unaffordable and rapid healthcare increases. We are also trying to improve on prior contract language in areas like layoffs and privatization that protect us in the future.  In addition, we are looking to ensure that promotional opportunities are available to our members and are not handed out to political appointees, bypassing civil service procedures.

Here is the status of the highest priority issues:

  • Salary and Wages: We have made progress on modernizing the step system and creating growth, but we are looking to make more progress. Across the board increases are also still a sticking point. CWA made strong demands in these areas, and we have more work to do to reach a final salary package.
  • Healthcare: We have made progress to protect the Unity PPO plan and contain costs. Our current contract contains a process to reopen negotiations if future premiums increase by a certain amount. This type of reopener clause remains under discussion for our next contract. Again, healthcare is part of a final package, so our work isn’t finished on these issues.
  • Telework and Civil Service Issues: We must secure a process to deal with telework during the period that civil service regulations are created for a permanent program. We also must secure a quick and fair process to deal with disputes that arise on an ongoing basis. The State wants to retain as much control over telework as possible, so we are in intense discussions over how to resolve our issues as part of a final contract.

CWA Strong! Member mobilization has strengthened negotiations this far. We still have more work to do. 

As a recap, here is the timeline of negotiations so far:

  • Fall 2022 – Commenced bargaining preparation, which included surveying members on your priorities for these negotiations.
  • February 16 – First bargaining session.
  • March through April – Solidarity Days every Thursday to support negotiations.
  • April 26 – “Fair Contract” Petition with 10,000 signatures delivered to Governor’s Office by over 300 CWA members.
  • May – Solidarity Days continue.
  • May 31 – Worksite Picketing at over a dozen locations with thousands of CWA members.
  • 20 sessions with the State so far… and counting.

CWA members know that contract negotiations go as long as it takes to reach a quality final package. We know our members are eager to know more details, so please stay in touch with your Local for membership meeting dates and communications.

The CWA Bargaining Team cannot win the contract we need without your support. If we are unable to make sufficient progress at the bargaining table, we will be asking for your help in demonstrating to the State that we are united behind our demands for a fair contract.

IN SOLIDARITY!
CWA Bargaining Committee

Bargaining Update (PDF)

CWA District 1 Update – February 2023

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Dear Members,

Happy New Year! We’re writing today to share some important info that directly impacts you and your family. 2023 is going to be a big deal for state workers. Our current contract expires on June 30th, and CWA has just begun bargaining for our next 4-year contract. In order to get the best contract possible, it’s going to take all of us fighting together!

Only members of the union get to have input into the contract proposals, and only members vote on the final contract – these are rights and privileges we gain by committing to standing together.

Being a union member is an investment in ourselves and our family. The commitment to each other is what gives our union power, because it shows the boss that we have each other’s backs and will fight for what we deserve: dignity and safety in the workplace, and a fair contract that provides economic security for all CWA members and our families. With bargaining about to start, now is the time to stand with your co-workers and join the union!

Here is a link to our CWA electronic membership card – please download and type in the highlighted boxes (including your signature), and then email it back to CWA Local 1031 at info@cwa1031.org .

Did you know that last year, CWA had three major accomplishments?

  1. After years of fighting to make sure our pensions are properly funded, the State not only made the full pension payment, an additional $500 million was included.
  2. When hit with a more than 20% increase in health benefit premiums, the union fought back and negotiated it down to 3%, which for most members amounted to just a few dollars per pay period. It was the first increase in 3 years!
  3. CWA worked with other public sector unions to get the Responsible Collective Negotiations Act (RCNA) passed and signed into law. This is the most important pro-union legislation passed and signed into law in three decades, expanding what we can negotiate for to include some vital aspects of our jobs like anti lay-off and anti-privatization job security language. Among the other things this bill does, it allows unions to charge non-members the cost of arbitration in discipline. Depending on the amount of days needed to present the case, the cost of arbitration can run from a few thousand dollars to in excess of $10,000. In order to be eligible to have the union pay for an arbitration case, you must be a full, dues paying member before to being called in to a Weingarten meeting, the time you become aware that you are being investigated for possible discipline. Otherwise, you would be responsible for the entire cost and you must pay a significant portion up front.

We need to build as much power as possible to bargain this next contract. Our union power is based on state employees like yourself standing side by side with your co-workers as CWA members.

Here is the link again that connects you to an electronic signature card.

We’re happy to answer any questions you may have so don’t hesitate to reach out to your Branch President for more information.

In solidarity,

Dennis G. Trainor, Vice President CWA District 1
Fran Ehret, NJ Director CWA District 1
John Rose, President Local 1031
Migdalia Santiago, President Local 1032
Gaye Palmer, President Local 1033
Adam Liebtag, President Local 1036
Ken McNamara, President Local 1037
Shawn Ludwig, President Local 1038
Michele Long-Vickers, President Local 1040

Important Message Regarding Health Benefits for State Employees

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Dear CWA member,

Please closely review this important information regarding your health benefits.

CWA, in coalition with AFSCME, AFT, IBEW, IFPTE and the Council of NJ State College Locals, have reached an agreement with the State of NJ regarding the massive State Health Benefits Plan (SHBP) premium increases which will take effect for 2023. This agreement drastically reduces the impact of those premium increases on our members.

The State notified CWA in July that its actuary for the SHBP recommended raising premiums by 20.7% for the plans in which state employees are enrolled. CWA immediately asserted our rights under our Contract to negotiate over these increases. We were quickly joined by the other Unions representing state employees whose members were also affected.

Supported by thousands of phone calls, the rally at the State House, and other mobilization, CWA and our union coalition reached an agreement with the State to greatly reduce the impact of the proposed premium increases, effective January 2023:

  1. Copays for Specialists will increase to $30 as a pilot program. OB/GYN specialist co-pays will remain unchanged.
  2. Urgent Care visits will increase to $45 as a pilot program in 2023.
  3. Member contributions are limited to a 3% increase from current rates. (Contribution rates have not increased since 2019.)

For example, a member with family medical and prescription coverage earning $50,000 per year will contribute only $68 more per year, or $1.31 per week, than their current rate.

When the CWA bargaining team negotiated over health insurance in our current contract (2019-2023), we made two significant changes. Both of those negotiated changes have protected our members now as we faced increased health care costs from the COVID pandemic and other factors.

First, we created the CWA Unity PPO plan which reduced total premium costs for both employers and members. Premiums were reduced by around 11% from the prior plans and members shared in those savings. Members saved thousands of dollars over the life of our current contract. The new plan and new contribution rates also extended to the Judiciary and have been adopted in other units around the state. Members, the State, and local government employers who use this new plan, have saved millions in health insurance premiums and contributions since 2019.

Second, we negotiated re-opener language in our contract so that any premium increases in future years would require the State to come to the negotiations table rather than impose increases. Through negotiations, the Unions and State were able to reduce costs but protect quality benefits.

Both the plan changes from 2019 and the re-opener language prevented the State from imposing these costs on members without negotiations. Collective bargaining worked to protect our plans and defend against drastic premium increases.

Urgent Care utilization rose sharply in the past two years, which we believe was a result of COVID. The Union will continue to assist members with urgent care needs through lower-cost, higher quality alternatives like primary care physicians and the NJ Direct Primary Care medical home program.

Thanks to all the CWA members who participated in mobilization activities which made this agreement possible. Please make every effort to participate in upcoming membership meetings with your Locals.

In solidarity,

Dennis G. Trainor, Vice President, CWA District 1
Franceline Ehret, New Jersey Area Director, CWA District 1
John Rose, President, CWA Local 1031
Migdalia Santiago, President, CWA Local 1032
Gaye Palmer, President, CWA Local 1033
Adam Liebtag, President, CWA Local 1036
Ken McNamara, President, CWA Local 1037
Shawn Ludwig, President, CWA Local 1038
Michele Long-Vickers, Executive Vice President, CWA Local 1040