URGENT ALERT! IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED!
October 21, 2010
RE: Arbitration Reform
Dear Mayor:
This is a follow up to the ARBITRATION REFORM IMPASSE ADVISORY YOU RECEIVED FROM ME ABOUT 4:00 yesterday.
(http://www.njslom.org/letters/ml102010-arbitration-reform.html).
The Assembly Budget Committee sent a notice out at about 5:15 PM, last night, that the committee meeting, which began this past Monday, will be resumed TODAY at 1:00 PM.
It is our understanding that A-3393, sponsored by Assemblyman Lou Greenwald, which would establish “fair and final offer” will be amended and possibly passed by the committee. We have not seen the amendments, but it is our understanding that they DO NOT include a cap on awards. With an inflexible 2% cap on the property tax levy, the Legislature should realize that any arbitration awards with a total economic impact of more than 2% will force cuts elsewhere in your budget. To fund increased public safety compensation, in excess of the 2% cap, municipalities will need to cut services, salaries and/or personnel in other departments or reduce the number of uniformed officers.
WE URGENTLY REQUEST THAT YOU REVIEW OUR LETTER. IF YOU AGREE THAT THERE HAS TO BE A CAP ON BINDING ARBITRATION AWARDS, WE NEED FOR YOU TO IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE AND ASK THEM TO EITHER AMEND THE BILL ACCORDINGLY OR “HOLD THE BILL” UNTIL THE LEAGUE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE AMENDMENTS AND SHARE THE PROVISIONS OF THEIR PROPOSAL WITH OUR MEMBERSHIP
This issue is a major management reform that the League has requested for decades. It now appears the Legislature and Governor are poised to deal with it. We sincerely appreciate that BUT we need to get it right!!!
The members of the committee are:
Louis D. Greenwald, Chairman |
Dist. 6 |
|
(856-435-1247) |
Gary S. Schaer, Vice Chairman |
Dist 36 |
|
( 973-249-3665) |
Peter Barnes, III |
Dist 18 |
|
(732-548-1406) |
John J. Burzichelli |
Dist 3 |
|
(856-251- 9801) |
Albert Coutinho |
Dist 29 |
|
( 973-589-0713) |
Gordon M. Johnson |
Dist 37 |
|
(201-530-0469) |
Nellie Pou |
Dist 35 |
|
(973-247-1555) |
Joan M Quigley |
Dist 32 |
|
(201-217-4614) |
Joseph R. Malone III |
Dist 30 |
|
(609-298-6250) |
Declan O’Scanlon |
Dist 12 |
|
(732-933-1591) |
Jay Webber |
Dist 26 |
|
(732-884-6190) |
David W. Wolfe |
Dist 10 |
|
(732-840-9028) |
If you have any questions or concerns contact Jon Moran at jmoran@njslom.com or Lori Buckelew at lbuckelew@nslom.com
Very truly yours,
Bill Dressel
Executive Director
NJ League of Municipalities
