TRENTON, N.J.—The union representing 32,000 New Jersey state employees announced Apr. 16 that it
has reached a tentative contract agreement with Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration. The Communications Workers of America said the four-year deal would be retroactive to July 2015, when its last contract expired, and include two 2% raises. It would also give workers pay increases for longevity that former Gov. Chris Christie’s administration had frozen since the old contract expired. “We achieved our goals,” the CWA said in a message to members. “The contract improves on the pattern set by other settlements and sets a foundation for our next contract. We bargained to receive all of our increments retroactively and raises for workers at max. There are no concessions in this tentative agreement.” The CWA, which had not yet set a date for a vote on ratifying the deal, will begin bargaining its next contract in May. Read more
