For those of you in State service, especially in the Department of Human Services, you can probably remember
the job questionare and the interviews that were done with Cottage Training Supervisor (CTS) and Head Cottage Training Supervisor
(HCTS) titles in 1987 During Governor Kean's final term. The report from that independent examiner determined that the
two titles desrved a salary upgrade of at least four (4) ranges as a result of the new job duties incurred eight (8) years
prior.
Shortly after that report, the Supreme Court rendered a landmark decision regarding school funding. Immediately
after that, Governor Florio was elected into office and attempted to pay for the $2+ billion funding dilemma by raising the
sales tax by 1%... a move that sparked the Republican take over of both houses in NJ, and with it, the repeal of the sales
tax increase. This in turn caused Florio to promulgate the largest layoff in the State's history. The layoff was
particularly painful to Local 1040 and other CWA locals because CWA refused to back the sales tax initiative. At the
same time, Florio tried to break our contract, causing a huge rally on the steps of the State House that was attended by 30,000
demonstrators, the largest in history and still holds the record.
Throughout the ensuing decades, there would be several other attempts to get the salary upgrades via Desk Studies
and DPF #44 submissions. All of these efforts would sit in the Department of Personnel and gather dust.
Fast forward to February of 2007. Carolyn Wade would come down from her Ivory Tower and commence a campaign
of misinformation and disinformation relative to the tentative agreement that CWA signed on February 20 and 21, 2007.
Among other tales and promises, she would excitedly tell members how our long awaited upgrades for Habilitation Plan Coordinator
(HPC), CTS and HCTS titles would be completed within 180 days of the signing of the contract.
That was a lie, as evidenced by the fact that we are now WELL PAST the 180 day mark and, without a single Unfair
Labor Practice charge filed for bargaining in bad faith, left once again without the upgrades.
There are legal remedies that the Union can pursue but our Union leader has remained silent.
The Union leadership bought our vote for ratification with promises, just like they did last time. And just like
last time, those promises never materialized.
