CWA LOCAL 1036

The JCAU Bargaining Committee has reached a Tentative Agreement with the Judiciary for a new contract covering July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2020. 

The Tentative Agreement will be presented to members for voting in August. Voting will be concluded and counted by August 24.

Only FULL members in the JCAU Units are eligible to vote on the proposed tentative agreement. If approved, it will become our new contract and will take effect immediately and retroactively.

Click to Register for JCAU Town Hall Call for CWA 1036 Members

CWA 1036 is holding a Town Hall call for our JCAU members on August 8 at 7pm.

To join the call, you must pre-register via the link above.

THANK YOU to the members of CWA Local 1036.  Your efforts in our budget mobilization were critical in applying the pressure needed to get this deal done before another government shutdown occurred again this year.

We generated thousands of calls to legislators and lined the hallways at the state house. We didn’t let legislators off the hook if they were blocking a compromise on the state budget.

The budget agreement reached by Governor Murphy and the Legislature took far too long to come together and went to the very brink of a government shutdown. But this fight was important because the ultimate result increases funding for education, transportation, public services, and public-sector pensions.  Most importantly, this budget is actually backed by sustainable revenues that ensure these funding commitments continue into the future.   
 
Below is a budget summary containing funding commitments that:

o Make an investment of $242 million in NJ Transit.
o Invest in college affordability
o Increase the state property tax deduction from $10,000 to $15,000.
o Make an $83 million investment in pre-K and increase K-12 funding.
o Preserve core services, programs, and communities.
o Enact a new child-and-dependent care tax credit and an expansion of the EITC.
o Make a historic contribution to our pension system.
o Restores the Homestead Rebate program
o Modernizes the school funding formula

The budget takes an important first step in a millionaire’s tax.  CWA has been fighting for a millionaire’s tax for years, and this budget finally forces the wealthiest New Jerseyans (with incomes of $5 million and above) to pay their fair share. The Corporate Business Tax (CBT) also increases for four years. Corporations that are expecting huge windfalls from the Trump tax plan will be paying higher taxes to the State of New Jersey.  These revenue generators will ensure that New Jersey will end the fiscal year with a surplus of approximately $750 million.

So, again, thank you, thank you, thank you to the members of CWA Local 1036. Many Stewards and Retirees stepped up repeatedly within the last two weeks to mobilize and bring members into the fight.

In unity there is strength! 

SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES ON STATE BUDGET SHUTDOWN. 

Over this coming weekend, and especially with a holiday next week, it will be critical that members get communication from the Union. 

Please complete the form so we can stay in touch! 

Dear CWA 1036 Members,

As expected, the United States Supreme Court ruled, in a 5-4 decision, against workers and their rights to collectively bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. The case, Janus v. AFSCME, makes the entire public sector “right-to-work”, which is an ironic moniker for having no rights at work.

By allowing non-members to pay nothing for the services and benefits that having a Union provide; such as grievance representation, collectively bargained raises and benefits, and due process rights for discipline, the purpose of this decision is to undermine the Union, cause division among members and non-members, and make it more difficult to fight for our members.

There are open questions from the decision, such as the extent to which a non-member is still covered under our contract and whether they receive any representation from the Union if they pay no representation fee or dues.

The Janus ruling is a blow, to say the least, but it cannot and will not defeat us. Here in New Jersey, we stood together through eight years of one of the most anti-worker administrations in this state’s history. By standing together and standing firm, we fought off the worst proposals and emerged with a new administration and a new Contract. Make no mistake, we only made it through to this point by standing together as a Union.  When we stand together and commit to fighting for one another we will not only survive whatever they throw at us but grow stronger as a result.

Please also understand that having a Union is what gives us the ability to fight for raises, benefits, and due process protections. Without a strong Union with vigiliant membership, ALL of those things are at risk, including the Contract that we ratified today.

Right now, solidarity and unity are more important than ever. We have no time to mourn, grumble, or pout. 

Janus does one thing for certain – there are no more sidelines.  There are members of the Union, fighting to protect one another and what we have gained by building power for workplace justice, and then there are people outside the Union, who are not a part of it. Our members are our strength and will continue to be. 

In the last month alone, CWA 1036 has been working hard for members: 

• Settled the PNCR Contract, with an overwhelming majority in support;
• Successfully defended our right to progression payments;
• Fought to preserve and defend our pension system;
• Protected members and non-members from the malfeasance of certain managers;
• Signed up almost 100 new members;
• Held dozens of worksite meetings across the state, keeping members informed about everything from workplace to international issues important to workers and their families;
• Are CURRENTLY fighting to stop a state shutdown and make sure that any budget that passes does not endanger our healthcare or pensions

This is the work that our MEMBERS do. These are the victories that our MEMBERS win.   None of it is guaranteed unless we keep fighting for it.

We are still CWA STRONG!

SOLIDARITY FOREVER.

PS - For more information on this decision, please visit:  

https://www.cwa-union.org/cwa-strong-janus-decision-materials

CWA members voted by a strong majority to approve a new contract with the NJ State Judiciary for the Professional NonCase Related bargaining unit.

We thank every member who voted. We thank every Steward who helped inform members about the agreement, helped members with voting, and brought new members into the Union. And we thank every member in advance for staying strong during negotiations. 

Ballots were counted on June 29, 2018. Below are complete results. 

To try to break the stalemate over a state budget for next fiscal year, yesterday Gov. Murphy offered a compromise to Legislative leaders that would reduce the corporate business tax imposed by the Legislature, phase in a small sales tax increase over two years, and raise taxes on millionaires. All these tax increases would generate new sustainable revenue that will balance the budget and create a stable funding source for future years. 

CWA supports a budget that increases sustainable revenue, including a millionaire's tax. The Democratic majority in the Legislature has previously voted multiple times to pass a millionaire's tax. The Legislature's current budget proposal is out of balance by over $800 million. This means we would certainly have a shortfall during the year that could force cuts to public services, to our pension payment or health benefits, and to other programs. 

Do you support an increase in state revenues from a corporate business tax and millionaire's tax?

Do you support increasing resources for public education, improving public transportation, and funding critical public services? 

Do you support the state making a full pension payment and living up to its contracts?  

Here are 3 things you can do to make a difference: 

1. Call Your Legislator Right Now! (609) 400-4763.

As to talk to your legislator or leave a message. Thousands of phone calls have been made and more are coming in every hour. Let's keep up the pressure until a better budget is passed.  

2. Come to the State House on FRIDAY, June 29.

It is one of the last days where the Senate and Assembly could vote to pass a new budget. NJ needs this showdown to be resolved on Thursday so we can avoid a shutdown of state government that could last a long time. 

3. Contact Local 1036 to stay informed of budget shutdown updates. 

Send your personal email address and cell number to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. This will help us send you regular updates about the shutdown if we are locked out of work. 

...And Call Your Legislators Again! (609) 400-4763. 

Please call your Legislators every day until the budget is passed. 

CWA members voted to approve new contracts with the County of Burlington for our Main Unit, Supervisors Unit, Prosecutor's Office Clerical Unit, and Superintendent of Elections. 

We thank every member who voted. We thank every Steward who helped inform members about the agreement, helped members with voting, and brought new members into the Union. And we thank every member in advance for staying strong during negotiations. 

Below are complete results. 

Prosecutors Clerical Unit

Superintendent of Elections Unit

County Supervisors Unit

County Main Unit (non-supervisors)

Salary Charts

Members can use these salary charts to look up your salary, map out retroactive pay, and chart your salary after increases in 2017 and 2018.

Salary Chart - effective June 30, 2015 through August 14, 2017

Salary Chart - effective August 15, 2017 through June 30, 2018

Salary Chart - effective July 1, 2018

Health Benefits Calculators

Members can look up the cost of their health insurance plan and calculate their chapter 78 employee contributions based on salary.

Health Benefits Rates (2018)

Health Benefits Employee Contribution Chart

CWA members approved the new State Executive Branch Contract by a wide margin. 

This is a huge victory for CWA members who worked three long years to secure a better contract, enforce our prior contract language, and reach a fair agreement with the State. 

Contract implementation and payroll issues will be discussed in the coming weeks at work site meetings and membership updates. 

We thank every member who voted. We thank every Steward who helped inform members, worked at the polling locations, and brought new members into the Union. And we thank every member in advance for staying strong and staying motivated as we prepare for bargaining the next contract.  

Over 70% of members voted.

Below are complete results compiled from all Locals. 

Administrative-Clerical Unit

Professional Unit

Primary Level Supervisors Unit

Higher Level Supervisors Unit

(View/Download the Summary of the Tentative Agreement) [PDF]