Union was planning to file unfair labor practice charges and hold demonstrations.
By:Gwen McNamara
WEST WINDSOR The township has narrowly avoided getting hit with unfair practice charges and having more than 60 picketing employees on its hands.
That’s because Monday night the Township Council unanimously approved a contract for the township’s white- and blue-collar labor union as originally negotiated.
Earlier in the day, the membership of the Communication Workers of America Local 1032 voted down an amended contract, demanding the original one be approved.
If not, the union said it was planning to file unfair labor practice charges today with the state Public Employment Relations Commission and would hold demonstrations July 14 at the next Township Council meeting.
PERC is the seven-member, governor-appointed body that deals with matters of public employment, including representation elections, unfair practices, mediation and arbitration.
Faced with this threat, Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh recommended the Township Council approve the contract as originally negotiated.
"It’s time to move on," he said Monday.
The contract became an item of dispute last week, when union leaders called for it to be approved by the Township Council.
The union had ratified what it believed to be a final copy of the contract in June and expected action quickly, but township administrators decided not to recommend council approval, saying there were two open items that had not been resolved before the ratification vote.
The two items dealt with wording for the contract’s salary increases and sick-leave reimbursement.
After heated debate, the two sides met last week and appeared to have come up with an agreeable solution but not to union members.
"The membership voted down the proposal by 60 percent," said Jim Marketti, union president. "It just goes to show how angry the membership is with its employer."
Monday night, the Township Council approved the original contract language. The union’s previous contract expired in December 2002.
Members of council were glad to see the issue come to a close.
"I think we really put the union in a difficult position," said Councilman Charles Morgan. "The contract got out there without writing on it indicating it was a draft. The union had pretty good reasons to go ahead and seek ratification."
Councilwoman Jackie Alberts agreed and expressed concern about the future.
"My big concern is that, yeah, we won the battle, but will we lose the war in terms of still having services provided efficiently, cheaply and pleasantly," she said. "There needs to be strong outreach from the administration to employees. We’re all working for the same town here."