CWA LOCAL 1036

Communications Workers of America

RATIFICATION SCHEDULE & INSTRUCTIONS

NJ DEP / NJ DOH / NJ DHS / AGRICULTURE

LOCAL 1036 Voting Period: Thursday, March 7 through 2:00pm on Wednesday, March 20

Members in good standing are eligible to vote. Non-members may join to become members at any time.

Voting will be by secret ballot, whether in-person or online. How you vote is confidential.

Worksite Voting will be held in large work sites in Trenton. (See below).

 

MATERIALS 

 

COMMON CONCERNS/QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NEW HEALTH BENEFIT PLANS

1. Keep Your Current Doctors: CWA Unity plan is administered by the State Health Benefits Plan and Horizon, Aetna. Our new plan uses exactly the same networks of Horizon and Aetna as the current NJDirect (Horizon) and Freedom (Aetna) PPO plans. If you use NJDirect providers in Horizon now, they are the same providers as the CWA PPO plan. Same goes for Aetna users. We are using the same national networks of providers as the current plans. There is no change in this with the new plan. 

 

2. Open Enrollment: Do I need to do anything if I am moving from NJDirect to CWA PPO with the Horizon network? Do I need to do anything if I am moving from Aetna Freedom to the CWA PPO with the Aetna network?

Open enrollment for the CWA plan is happening between April and June 2019. The new plan will take effect July 1, 2019. Migration will be automatic from your current PPO plan to the CWA PPO based on your selected network, Horizon or Aetna.

If you have NJDirect with Horizon now and want to keep that network, you will be automatically enrolled in CWA PPO with Horizon.

If you have Aetna Freedom now and want to keep that network, you will be automatically enrolled in CWA PPO with Aetna.

Since we are starting the new CWA plan in July 2019, we will have a 6-month remainder to this year and then we will go back on the regular open enrollment and plan year schedule for 2020. Open enrollment for 2020 will be in October 2019. 

Deductibles, out of pocket maximums, etc. that have already been spent under your existing plan (NJDirect or Freedom) will carry forward to the CWA PPO for the remainder of the 2019 plan year. 

 

3. Pre-approvals: Any pre-approvals you have for the 2019 plan year for a healthcare service (bi-weekly injectables, for example) carries through to the new CWA PPO plan. You will not need another pre-approval. Remember, the network providers (Horizon and Aetna) are the same with the CWA PPO plan as with the current plans. 

 

4. Coverage Charts and Costs: Many of us have not looked at a coverage chart in a long time, or do not know the coverage limits for the current NJDirect/Freedom plans now. Looking at a chart for the new CWA Plan might be confusing, but these coverages actually exist for the current plants now. 

  • What is the In Network Coinsurance of 10%? This is the same as NJ Direct 15 and Aetna Freedom 15 now. A member will pay 10% of the cost of in-network specialty services such as ambulance, durable medical equipment, and prosthetics. This co-insurance exists in the current plans. The CWA plan is the same as current plans. Again, this is the same coverage level as the current plans, not a change. 
  • What is the Out of Network Coinsurance of 30% This is the same as NJ Direct 15 and Aetna Freedom 15 now. A member will pay 30% of the cost of out-of-network services, meaning a provider that does not accept your Horizon or Aetna insurance. This is the same coverage level as the current plans, not a change. 

 

ONLINE VOTING – Field Sites and Absentee voting

Online voting will be offered only for absentee voting and to members outside the worksite voting areas. 

Online Voting information will be EMAILED to members in worksites not listed above.

Ballots will be emailed to your work email address starting Thursday, March 7 and you can vote online any time until 2:00pm on Wednesday, March 20. 

 

ABSENTEE BALLOTS MAY BE REQUESTED

Absentee ballots may be requested ONLY by calling the Local at (609) 530-0060.

Do not email your staff rep or steward. Absentee ballots will be cast online.

 

A report of final results will be broadcast to all members after voting closes on March 20th 

 

WORKSITE VOTING SCHEDULE

 

 

 

Details
Contracts NJ State Members

CWA is pleased to announce that we have a Tentative Agreement for a new Contract with the State Executive Branch and Gov. Murphy for a July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2023 Agreement.  The details of the Agreement are embargoed until we have a Tele-Townhall Call with our members and Shop Stewards on Monday, March 4. The Shop Steward call will be at 6:30 p.m. and the Member call will be at 7:30 p.m.  If you are a member or a shop steward and you have not been receiving calls for the Town hall meetings, please contact your Local so that you can receive the call.  We will announce the schedule for ratification on Wednesday and you will receive a detailed summary of the Tentative Agreement before ratification. 

In Solidarity, 

Your Bargaining Committee

John Rose, Local 1031

Patrick Kavanagh, Local 1032

Gaye Palmer, Local 1033

Adam Liebtag, Local 1036

Ken McNamara, Local 1037

Shawn Ludwig, Local 1038

Carolyn C. Wade, Local 1040

Hetty Rosenstein, NJ Area Director

Dennis Trainor, District 1 Vice President

Steven P. Weissman, Counsel

 

Details
Contracts NJ State Members

 

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

 

 

 

Details

Statement from CWA President Chris Shelton
 
Today’s Supreme Court decision on the Janus v. AFSCME case marks a sad day for all working people. This decision continues a long campaign by corporate interests and right wing groups to restrict our ability to stand together. While these special interest groups might be celebrating their victory against workers’ freedom to join together in strong unions to speak up for themselves, their families, and their communities, union members will be using this as a rallying cry to fight back harder than ever before.
The right-wing attack on union fair share fees is all about making it more difficult for working people to defend themselves when corporations abuse their power. Today's decision is an attempt to further concentrate power in the hands of the wealthy few by taking away resources from working people who are represented by unions.

But there’s something happening here in America. We’ve seen it from CWA members as workers at Verizon, AT&T Mobility, Frontier Communications, and Momentive Performance Materials have gone on strike and won gains through strong collective bargaining. Our public worker membership is growing, even in states like Texas that prohibit collective bargaining for public employees. We’ve stood in solidarity with teachers and other public employees in many different states walking out and standing up to special interests – and winning.
 
Corporate special interest groups have been working for decades to strip away workers’ freedom to join together and negotiate for fair wages and benefits, and to improve our workplaces. They want to turn back the clock on achievements like Social Security, civil rights, wage and hour and safety laws, Medicare, and public education that unions fight every day to preserve.
Union members will show them that nothing can stand in the way of working people standing together. We call on elected officials at the local, state and national level to stand with working people and make it easier for them to join together in unions. 
 
Statement of NJ AFL-CIO
 
“Although not unexpected, today’s ruling is another blow to America’s middle class, seeking to deprive workers’ from having a voice at work through their unions. Taking away a union’s ability to properly represent its members and promoting a “free rider” system to weaken the American labor movement is just another example of corporate and far right interests rigging the economy against the rest of us.”
 
“However, America’s unions will rise to the challenge. Today’s ruling will motivate us to work harder, work smarter and fight back. Workers recognize that unions are the best way to improve pay, benefits and working conditions for the approximately 13 million members here in America. We will continue to fight on behalf of our members and all workers that have been betrayed by a political system in which the wealthy and corporations pull the strings of power at the detriment of America’s middle class workers.”
Details

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

Details
NJ State Members

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

YES 99.6%
NO 0.4%

 

 

 

Professional Unit

YES 99.7%
NO 0.3%

 

 

 

Primary Level Supervisors Unit

YES 99.4%
NO 0.6%

 

 

 

Higher Level Supervisors Unit

YES 99.6%
NO 0.4%

 

 

 

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

Details
NJ State Members

NEW POLICIES EFFECTIVE 2017

Critical Illness* - Pays benefits for Cancer, Stroke, Heart Attack, End Stage Renal failure and more,  $75 annual wellness per covered person and more. Spouse as well as dependent coverage is available. Guaranteed renewable for life. 

Accident Indemnity* - Plan covers any type of accident, 24 hours a day, on or off the job. Coverage includes hospital coverage, physical therapy, follow-up treatments, $60 annual wellness and more. Spouse as well as dependent coverage is available. Guaranteed renewable for life.

Hospital Indemnity* - Plan pays $1000 for initial hospitalization. Coverage includes outpatient surgery, major diagnostic, rehab, etc. Spouse as well as dependent coverage is available.   Guaranteed renewable for life.

Questions? Contact SANDRA FERNANDEZ  @ (201) 231-9371 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

AFLAC is NOT Health Insurance. AFLAC pays CASH directly to you and your family. All plans are compatible with major medical as well as other coverage you may have. All plans are 100% voluntary, supplemental, and portable.

 

Details

About CWA 1036

Communications Workers of America Local 1036 represents over 7,000 members and working families in both the public and private sector. Our members excel in a variety of careers working for the State of NJ, the NJ Judiciary, county and municipal government, and the health care industry: blue collar, professionals, administrative, attorneys, scientists, 911 dispatchers, librarians, engineers, nursing home workers, environmental professionals, doctors, and more.

Recent Posts

NJ State Contracts

Executive Branch Units
(7/1/2011 - 6/30/2015)


NJ Judiciary Members
(7/1/2016-6/30/2020)

** Contracts require Adobe Acrobat Reader (download)