The Negotiating Committee of the Judiciary Professional Non-Case Related (PNCR) Bargaining Unit is happy to report that the tentative agreement for a new contract was OVERWHELMINGLY ratified by a margin of 9 to 1 on Monday, August 25, 2008. The newly ratified contract protects salary growth for the approximately 1,200 employees in bargaining unit.

After months of hard fought negotiations the Judiciary agreed to Across The Board (ATB) raises of:

3% First Full Pay Period July 2008
3% First Full Pay Period July 2009
3.5% First Full Pay Period July 2010
3.5% First Full Pay Period July 2011

The term of the contract is from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2012. Employees in this Bargaining Unit will receive an increase in their paychecks sometime in late September early October (depends on the payroll unit and the state payroll administration) and thereafter they will receive a separate retroactive check covering the increase from July 1, 2008 to the date they receive the payroll increase.

The agreement continues the annual progression increase in January for those not yet at Max. That increase is 4% annually on top of the across the board (ATB) increases that everyone receives. Once an employee reaches the Max of the range (in January) they will remain at that Max for 24 months receiving only the ATB raises. However after the 24 months at Max they will receive another 3.3% one time increase on top of the ATBs, (Max 2).

The contract also includes a 1.5% contribution by employees toward the premium cost of their health benefits. The cost of co-pays and other requirements of the State Health Benefits Plan can and should be reviewed at : www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions/shbp.htm

If any member would like a copy of the Full Bargaining Report with more details please call the Trenton Office and request a copy. Our staff will be glad to provide one to you.

Our thanks go out to the following Bargaining Committee Members who worked tirelessly to get this contract secured under difficult economic conditions in the State:

Sue Wright - Mercer County Rich Holmes - Bergen County
Anita Wheeler - Camden County
Nancy Kessler- Essex County and Hearing Officers
Miguel Socarras - Union County and Court Interpreters
Marge Hunter - Central Office/Appellate Div.
Jim Salvaryn- ISP Officers
Jeff Demos - Middlesex (now retired)
Gail Richardson - Chief Negotiator, Staff Representative
John Seiler - Staff Representative
Maria Mancuso - Assistant to the President