Barnegat P.B.A Asks For Public Support In Contract Dispute With Township Committee

Members of the Barnegat PBA Local #296 have run out of patience.

Uniformed patrol officers have been working without a contract for three years.
"We have decided that it is now time to make this matter public," according to Facebook post.

The PBA has tried for three years to negotiate with the township, with no success.

"Our union has negotiated with several different representatives from the township, each time moving further and further away from a settlement," the post states. "Our members are seeking a fair contract similar to other contracts already signed with the township."

The union would like a minimum yearly cost of living increase of 1.95 percent and a contribution cap on medical costs.

The township settled a contract with the Barnegat FOP Lodge 217 - which represents the police department command staff and detectives - similar to the PBA's proposal back in November 2015.

"Yes, you did read that correctly, one year ago half of the police department settled their contract and now the township refuses to settle with the other half," the post states. "In fact, the Township Committee has settled a contract with every other employee union in the township besides the PBA."

The union's medical costs will increase in January since the township opted for a private plan rather than the state plan, the post states.

"The committee is going to tell you that our members are overpaid," according to the post. "In fact, they have threatened that if we go public regarding our contractual struggles they would announce our salaries at a township meeting."

The union contends officers' salaries are comparable to salaries of officers in similar departments in the area.

"Over the past several years our department has operated with minimal manpower and our members have worked overtime to cover these shortages, thus padding our paychecks," the post states. "Remember our members did not cause this overtime issue, The manpower shortages were due to the township not replacing officers whom retired. Be prepared the township will attempt to show you inflated incomes due to inadequate staffing they created."

The recent hiring of several new officers should eliminate the overtime problem, the post states.

"We are asking for the public's support in this matter," according to the post. "Please attend the next township meeting on Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m. and ask the committee to answer for their unfair actions."

It was a tumultuous year or the department. The Township Committee decided to eliminate police dispatcher jobs and outsource the work to Ocean County. In July, Police Chief Arthur P. Drexler was suspended from his job.

Reasons for Drexler's departure still have not been made public.

Image: Patch file photo.