Good Afternoon,

To date your negotiation team has met with the administrative team on:  February 24, 2010, March 4, 2010, March 17, 2010, March 31, 2010, April 14, 2010, May 4, 2010, May 26, 2010, June 7, 2010, June 16, 2010, June 29, 2010, October 28, 2010 and most recently today, November 22, 2010. 

As I shared previously, in accordance with the New Jersey Employee Relations Act, we requested comprehensive financial documents from the college.  Upon receipt of the requested items, members of your negotiations team met with a member of the research department, of AFT NJ State Federation (formerly NJSFT) and reviewed her findings.    I can tell you that additional questions were raised and we then requested additional information and answers to those questions were addressed in our October 28, 2010 meeting.

Unfortunately, we have reached a point where we feel no more progress can be made without the intervention of a mediator.  It is important to note that we are filing jointly for impasse with the management team.  We will be advised by the Public Employees Relation Commission (PERC) who will be assigned and when the first session will be.

As you know, we have accomplished a lot, most notably signing off on 23 articles which will be presented when the contract is considered for ratification.  At this point, the financial issues are what remain.

Lastly, I want to thank the members of the Negotiation team for their due diligence and each of you for your patience and support.  I look forward to moving ahead in the process.  

Sheri Ventura

President,

Academic –Administrative Personnel Federation – Local 3983

Academic –Administrative Personnel Federation – Local 3983

To date your negotiation team has met with the administrative team on:  February 24, 2010, March 4, 2010, March 17, 2010, March 31, 2010, April 14, 2010, May 4, 2010, May 26, 2010, June 7, 2010, June 16, 2010 & June 29, 2010.  We are scheduled to resume meetings on October 28, 2010.

As I shared previously, in accordance with the New Jersey Employee Relations Act, we requested comprehensive financial documents from the college.  Upon receipt of the requested items, members of your negotiations team met with a member of the research department, of AFT NJ State Federation (formerly NJSFT) and reviewed her findings.    While I cannot share our findings, I can tell you that additional questions were raised and we then requested additional information. 

We are now ready to “go back to the table”, scheduled for October 28, 2010.   Again, I want to thank each of you for your patience and support.  

Academic –Administrative Personnel Federation – Local 3983

To date your negotiation team has met with the administrative team on:  February 24, 2010, March 4, 2010, March 17, 2010, March 31, 2010, April 14, 2010, May 4, 2010, May 26, 2010, June 7, 2010, June 16, 2010 & June 29, 2010.

It is important to note at this time that significant progress has been made on numerous language items.  Again, although these items have been “signed off” on, I cannot yet share the specifics due to our confidentiality agreement.

There was no change in the financial offer made, and as I shared previously, we do not feel it is fair and equitable and once again rejected it.  In accordance with the New Jersey Employee Relations Act, we have requested comprehensive financial documents from the college.  Upon receipt of the requested items, a member of the research department, of AFT NJ State Federation (formerly NJSFT) will review them and share her findings with our team.  Time will be needed to gather and review the requested information; therefore, we do no not have any further meetings scheduled at this time.

We expect to re-convene once above is completed.

Again, I want to thank each of you for your patience and support.   Please know that your team is committed to settling a fair and equitable contract as soon as possible.

Academic –Administrative Personnel Federation – Local 3983

Your Negotiating Team continues to meet with the Administration of County College of Morris.  Our most recent meetings were held May 26th & June 7th.  Due to our confidentiality agreement, I cannot share specifics of the most recent offer, however, we do not feel the offer made was fair and equitable and did not accept it.  I can share that you should not expect financial increases like you have received in the past, especially since all public sector contracts remain under the microscope in the Governor’s office.  We are standing firm for a fair contract but also are striving to maintain as much of the contractual benefits we have experienced.

I am pleased to share that some language items have been agreed upon and are off the table. During these difficult times, negotiations can take longer than usual.  I continue to ask for your patience.  

Our next meeting with Administration is scheduled for June 16, 2010.

It is important to note, that regardless of the state of our contract, 1.5% of base pay for health care contribution becomes effective July 1^st as legislated for members participating in our plan.

A link to Frequently Asked Questions can be found at http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions/chapter2-faq.shtml   

May 5, 2010

Academic –Administrative Personnel Federation – Local 3983

Your Negotiating Team has begun contract negotiations with the Administration of County College of Morris.  Representing the Administration are, Thomas Burk (Human Resources), Rita Ragany-Bayer (Human Resources) & John Young (Business & Finance).  Your team is comprised of Sheri Ventura, Jill Wells, Gina Garcia, Ronnie Kopp Weiner, Joanne Kearns and Joanna McAvoy (Staff Representative, NJSFT).  In preparation for contract negotiations, we have been meeting regularly since September 2009 and continue to do so almost weekly.  Thus far, meetings with Administration have been held on February 24^th, March 4^th, March 17^th, March 31^st, April 14^th & May 4^th. A calendar of meeting dates has been established for every other week through May 2010. 

Both sides have presented opening remarks and agreed to ground rules for meetings.  In addition, an initial exchange of proposals has occurred with articles for review identified.  As typically is the case, the proposals presented at the first sessions are the simplest while more complex articles are dealt with later.  There is ongoing discussion addressing such items, however, it is too early in the process to comment on progress.

Our next meeting with Administration is scheduled for May 26, 2010.

Full Senate vote scheduled for Monday, February 22

A package of four bills was introduced last week, and heard in the Senate State Government Committee today. These bills will reduce public employee pensions & benefits, while doing nothing to alleviate any of the current problems with our under-funded pension system.

The five members of the State Government Committee voted unanimously to release these bills from committee, allowing them to be put to a full vote in the Senate on Monday, February 22. In over two and a half hours of testimony, including remarks from NJEA President Barbara Keshishian, NJREA President Ro Jankowski, and several of your peers and colleagues, the committee did not ask a single question of those testifying.

Clearly, your legislators don’t know what questions to ask! With the vote on these bills coming up on Monday, we need you to call your Senator and explain to them the impact these bills will have on thousands of working families in New Jersey. In addition, with these bills being likely to pass in Monday’s Senate vote, we need you to call your representatives in the Assembly and let them know what is in these bills! Here’s what you need to know about this package of legislation: S-2 – The Pension Bill – would eliminate defined-benefit pension plans for future part-time employees, and change the formula used to calculate pensions to reduce pension values by at least 8.3% for future employees.

S-3 – The Health Benefits Bill – would require all active employees to contribute 1.5% of their salary towards benefits, all new members to contribute 1.5% of their pension when they retire, and eliminate benefits for future part-time employees.

S-4 – The Leave Time Bill – would capsick leave compensation at a maximum of $15,000 and limit vacation leave carry-over to one year for future employees. S-4 also replaces ordinary and accidental disability under TPAF and PERS with purchased private disability insurance.

SCR-1 – The Constitutional Amendment – would mandate under-funding the pension system for the next eight years, by allowing to State to contribute only 1/7th of its full contribution each year until it reaches 100%.