Borough employees packed the council chambers at last week’s Red Bank Borough Council meeting in a show of solidarity aimed at convincing the mayor and council not to cap or eliminate longevity pay to certain municipal employees.
The crowd was there on Feb. 22 to urge the council to vote against an ordinance that, if passed, would eliminate longevity pay increases.
The ordinance would cap longevity payment at the current level of $500 paid annually for each five-year period employees have worked and eliminate it for all non-union and non-vested employees.
According to Borough Administrator Stanley Sickels, the measure would apply to 16 borough employees who would no longer see an increase in their longevity pay. To further remedy what Mayor Pasquale Menna referred to as the “mess of a financial situation” the borough is in, the ordinance would also eliminate longevity pay for employees who have worked for the borough for less than five years and all new hires.
George Schroeder, an employee of the borough’s department of public works, explained the demoralizing effect the elimination of longevity pay would have on him and other borough employees.
“We don’t make no money as it is,” he said. “This is something I’ve worked for to feed my family.”
He said the two jobs he works are barely enabling his family to get by.
“Now you tell us what we’re working for we can’t get.”
Schroeder said he understands that everyone’s in a tough position financially, and told the council: “Let’s work together to work something out.”
Valerie Ferber, borough human resources manager, pointed out that 16 employees would be affected by the ordinance if passed.
“To single out the same 16 people over and over, it’s demoralizing,” she said. “We’ve never asked for more than the unions get. We’re looking for equality, just treat us all the same.”
Court Administrator Frances Pastoriza asked the council: “Do you value your old employees more than your new ones?”
While the mayor and council remained silent, the crowd in the packed chambers applauded.
Kevin Tauro, a representative of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), said the clerical and public works employees he represents are the lowest paid in the borough and among their neighbors in Middletown, Little Silver, Rumson and Fair Haven.
Tauro asked that the council be fair in its negotiations.
“They only got half a year’s raise last year [1.5 percent] and had to adjust to the four-day work week. They took furloughs and they’re underpaid,” Tauro said.
“Most of them couldn’t come here because they’re working second or third jobs,” Tauro said, adding that a new police contract contained 3 percent raises. “Give us the respect that you give other groups,” he concluded.
Public Works employee Ray Livingston referred to the proposal to freeze the pay as a “slap in the face.”
“We’re not asking for much. We’d like some respect,” Livingston said. “Let’s come to some kind of agreement where we can live comfortably.”
Menna explained that the step was being taken to avoid harsher measures.
“We’re trying to avoid layoffs,” Menna said.
He suggested the ordinance be bifurcated, allowing the elimination of longevity pay for all new hires and tabling the remainder of the ordinance.
However, Borough Attorney Kenneth Pringle said that couldn’t be done and that the ordinance either must be voted on or tabled in its entirety.
Councilman Michael DuPont proposed tabling the ordinance but asked employees for their ideas on how to manage costs.
“Maybe we did rush into this,” DuPont said, adding,
“We do need to take some serious steps to close the severe issues we are having.”
When the ordinance was tabled, the audience burst into applause.
“Thank you for listening to us,” Ferber told council. “We’re not envious of the job ahead of you and the hard decisions you have to make.”
Menna warned the CWA, which has a contract up for negotiation this year, that longevity payments would be an issue of considerable weight.
“We have an enormous amount of respect for each and every one of you,” Councilman Edward Zipprich said. “I don’t know anybody who doesn’t go above and beyond.”