By:Michael Arges
EAST WINDSOR – The Communication Workers of filed an unfair labor complaint against the township Nov. 17, alleging the township has been moving too slowly on approving a contract both parties agreed to in July.
According to a statement released by the union and the compliant filed with the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission, negotiations between union representatives and Township Manager J. Paul Keller ended in agreement on July 18. Union members subsequently voted to approve the contract July 27, but the township hasn’t taken any steps towards approving the contract.
"The township has refused to put the agreement in writing and to sign it. Their failure to implement the agreement is the basis for the unfair labor practice charge," noted Betty Verdejo, a CWA Staff Representative for Local 1032 in a press release.
The township maintains that it is all a simple matter of misunderstanding, said David Orron, East Windsor township attorney.
"There was an apparent misunderstanding between the township manager, Paul Keller, and the union negotiators regarding certain terms of the contract," Mr. Orron said. "The agreement that the union believed it had reached with the township manager was, in fact, not the agreement that the manager had ever presented to Township Council for discussion or approval."
Because the complaint is now before the state commission, Mr. Orron said he preferred not to discuss the specifics of the misunderstanding.
Mr. Orron implied that there could be no deception on the township’s part because union leaders knew that the council had to agree to the contract terms.
"The union is well aware that no contract is final until the township council has approved it," Mr. Orron said. "The township continues to be willing to sit down and talk to the union."?
