City Council approved a new six-year contract through 2023 with Patrolman’s Benevolent Association (PBA) Local 31, representing officers in the Rahway Police Department.
The governing body unanimously adopted a resolution (AR-110-19) at its April 8 regular meeting, authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the city and the local union. The two-page Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) was executed on Feb. 14, recommending ratification and approval for a new contract.
The new six-year deal covers 2018 through 2023. The previous contract with PBA Local 31 was five years in length, covering 2013 through 2017, and the contract before that one was for seven years in length.
Salaries and wages in the Police Department were slated to be approximately $9.135 million, plus $326,500 in other expenses, in the most recent municipal budget. The nearly $55-million budget that was approved last June projected an average municipal tax increase of $82 for the average home, assessed at $133,000.
Among the modifications noted in the executed MOU were:
- 1.25 percent annual increase to the top two steps of the pay scale, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2018.
- All other existing contractual salary adjustments will remain in effect and be implemented, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2018.
- Two, non-base pay salary bonuses of $500 each payable on Jan. 1, 2020, and Jan. 1, 2022 to all members hired subsequent to June 28, 2001.
- Employees who have attained 10 years of service as of June 28, 2011 will make no contributions to health benefits in retirement “with the exception of applicable Chapter 2 contributions.”
- The Police Department’s Traffic Bureau will equally distribute 36 on-call days among the entire current unit.
- Effective March 1, 2019, all new hires must enroll in Omnia/Liberty Health Benefit Plan.
- All members retiring effective March 1, 2019 or later must enroll in NJ Direct 15/Aetna Freedom Health Plan.
- Sergeant salary Step 1 minimum of $85,000 or 13.16 percent above current pay; Step 2 minimum of $100,000 or 13.16 percent above current pay; and, Step 3 current salaries for sergeant for current year of the contract.