After months of hard bargaining and incredible unity between thousands of CWA members at seven different locals, we have reached a groundbreaking tentative agreement for 35,000 state workers in the executive branch.
This historic agreement is the result of membership solidarity, patience, and strength. When we fight, we win. Together, we fought for a pattern-breaking contract and this tentative agreement has significant gains for members in every part of CWA’s membership.
The new proposed contract is a 4-year term, beginning on July 1, 2023, and ending on June 30, 2027.
1. Across the Board Increases (ATBs)
2. Steps/Increments
3. New Minimum CWA Salary
4. Clothing Maintenance Allowance (“CMA”)
1. Plan Design and CWA Member Contributions: No changes to plan benefits or negotiated CWA member contributions, which remain a percentage based on salary. The contract secures that any change must be negotiated.
2. Eye Care Reimbursements: Prescription lens/contacts increased to $80. Bifocals/complex prescriptions doubled to $90. Eye exam reimbursement increased to $45. Employees are eligible for these reimbursements every two years.
3. SHBP Healthcare Ombudsperson Program Continued: Designated liaisons for CWA members to intervene and advise on health benefits plans, appeals, and other concerns with health/Rx benefits
4. Direct Primary Care Medical Home Program Continued: Free office visits, wellness-focused, small office primary care program exclusive to NJSHBP members
1. Civil Service Commission Telework Pilot extended through June 30, 2024. Allows time for additional discussion and negotiations to address all aspects of a telework program.
2. Continued Negotiations before Civil Service Rulemaking. Discussions between CSC, CWA, and other interested unions will start by October 15, 2023, and end by March 15, 2024, over the terms of a formal rule to codify Telework into Civil Service regulations.
3. Dispute Process Over Telework Exclusion. Exclusion from Telework can be grieved through the Step Two Departmental process, then appealed to the Civil Service Commission. Parties agree to a specific process in the departments of Children and Families and Law and Public Safety to address exclusions by October 20, 2023.
1. Use of Temps and Agency Temps: During the first year of the contract, the State and CWA shall collaborate on how to reduce the use of agency temps, intermittents, hourlies, per diems, TES, and other part-time positions. Parties will discuss conversion to full-time positions on an ongoing basis; the contract increases reporting transparency on agency temps so the Union can seek conversions or reductions.
2. Job Security: Updates language to recognize new, legally negotiable aspects of privatization, and the arbitrability of contractual grievances related to privatization.
3. Layoffs: Update language for classified and unclassified employees.
4. Union Rights: Improves union access to new employee orientations and requires separate time for contract benefit orientation for new hires.
5. VWXY Position/Title Conversions
6. Bereavement Leave: Beginning July 1, 2024, an annual 1 day of bereavement bank will be established. Each year thereafter, the 1 bereavement day will be available on January 1. Bereavement will be used before an employee’s sick time. Days do not accumulate and expire each year.
7. Health & Safety: Requires improved reporting by the State of health/safety incidents, regular reporting of HVAC filtration information twice per year.
8. Holidays: Add Juneteenth as a contractual holiday.
9. Special Response Unit “SPRU”: Hourly rates increased by $1.00 per hour effective July 1, 2025.
10. Rowan SOM: Agreement to continue negotiations for placement in ranges/steps.
11. Discipline Procedure: Creates new independent hearing officers for departmental hearings; enhances disclosure of investigation reports to the Union for certain types of disciplines where management had previously withheld.
12. Mileage Rate: Contractually secures $0.47 per mile for business use of a personal vehicle, unless the amount is increased by the annual appropriations act.
1. Supervisory Duties: Within 60 days following ratification, CWA and CSC will discuss the inclusion of supervisory duties in job descriptions for Primary and Higher Level Supervisory titles; PARs for subordinates are not always a requirement for Primary Level Supervisory titles.
2. Out of Title Work: Within 60 days following ratification, CWA and CSC will discuss out-of-title work issues including pay based on interim or temporary appointments, length of time an employee can perform out-of-title work, and use of provisional appointments to trigger promotional announcements where the employee is performing out-of-title work.
