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Nearly 32,000 employees working for New Jersey’s executive branch are in line for raises of almost 15 percent over the life of a four-year contract, according to terms negotiated between state officials and the Communications Workers of America.
The agreement covers administrative/clerical, professional, primary level supervisors and higher level supervisors working in the governor’s and lieutenant governor’s offices and in state departments. The rank and file members in seven locals will be voting on the contractin the next few weeks.
The tentative deal, retroactive to July 1 and running through June 30, 2027, would give workers salary bumps of 3.5 percent each July through 2026.
The CWA said that state workers “have shown solidarity, patience, and strength” since February as they rallied to win a deal that ultimately included healthy pay hikes, retained benefits and also sanctions telework options.
“When CWA fights, we win, and the strength of this agreement is a testament to our membership’s solidarity and demand for dignity at work,” CWA District 1’s vice president, Dennis Trainor, said in a statement. “This tentative agreement delivers on our goals and sets a foundation for continued progress in several areas in the near future.”
In a summary of the agreement, the union said there were no changes to members’ health plan benefits or to negotiated contributions, which will remain a percentage of members’ salaries. Any changes to the benefit plan must be negotiated.
According to the agreement, the Civil Service Commission, the CWA and other unions will begin discussions toward codification of a telework pilot program later this month.
The program, established in April 2022 and extended through next June, was designed to keep the state competitive with the private sector. It has so far produced positive results, according to the Civil Service Commission’s acting chair and CEO, Allison Chris Myers.
Under the program’s mandates, all departments and authorities must offer workers telework opportunities of no more than two days a week depending on operational needs.
Employees who are not eligible for telework options should have the ability to secure flextime schedules or alternate work programs. Departments’ telework plans are developed in consultation with unions.
In addition to the pay hikes, the tentative agreement outlines changes to civil service ranges and steps that will increase the salary guides for some of the state’s lowest-paid workers, according to a synopsis of the agreement from Governor Phil Murphy’s office.
“This agreement will lift up our middle class and represents an important step in our journey of creating a stronger and fairer New Jersey for every family,” Murphy said in a statement accompanying the outline. “At a time when many working families are struggling with the rising cost of living, we are ensuring that our State employees can do their jobs with the wages, benefits, and protections they deserve.”
The total cost of the agreement will be released once the contract is ratified, the state’s synopsis said.
CWA did not reply to emails seeking details on the votes or on whether any of the union’s past gains were renegotiated in order to arrive at this agreement.
richardk@thechiefleader.com
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