A.B.D. No. 90-2

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

BEFORE THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION APPEAL BOARD

ELIZABETH BRADY, GEORGE O. LODER,	OAL DKT NOS. #PRB-8881-88, LEE ANN LONGO, HELEN G. NEWSOME,	8877-88, 8879-88, 8878-88,

SAMUEL H. POLISCHUK AND	8880-88, 8902-88

KATHERINE MARIE SCHULTHEIS,

Petitioners,	(CONSOLIDATED)

v.

AGENCY DKT NOS. AB-88-33,

AB-88-29, AB-88-31, AB-88-32,

COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA,	AB-88-28, AB-88-30

AFL-CIO, LOCAL 1078

Respondent.

Sameul Polischuk, pro se for petitioners

Michael T. Leibig, Esq., for respondent (Zwerdling, Paul Leibig, Kahn & Thompson, attorneys)

DECISION AND ORDER

Elizabeth Brady, George O. Loder, Lee Ann Longo, Helen G. Newsome, Samuel H. Polischuk and Katherine Marie Schultheis filed petitions of appeal with the Public Employment Relations Commission Appeal Board. The petitioners are employed by the City of Ocean City and are represented for purposes of collective negotiations by, but are not members of, respondent, Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO Local 1078 ("CWA"). They pay representation fees in lieu of dues to CWA Local 1078. The petitions seek review of the representation fees paid by petitioners to the CWA during the 1988-1989 dues year. Answers to the petitions were filed by the CWA. These matters were transferred to the Office of Administrative Law as contested cases and were assigned to Administrative Law Judge

Lillard E. Law. Prior to the opening of hearings, CWA and the petitioners entered into settlements. On June 16, 1989, Judge Law issued his "Initial Decision-Settlement." He reviewed the terms of the settlements and concluded that they were entered into voluntarily and disposed of all issues in dispute. Judge Law approved the settlements and ordered that all parties comply with their terms. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:14B-10, the matter is now before the Appeal Board to affirm, reverse, remand or modify Judge Law's order.

We have reviewed the settlements and Judge Law's order (attached hereto), pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:14B-10, and conclude that his action is correct.

ORDER

The Initial Decision-Settlement of Judge Law is hereby affirmed.

BY ORDER OF THE APPEAL BOARD

WILLIAM L. NOTO

Chairman

Chairman Noto and Board Members Dorf and Verhage voted in favor of this decision.

DATED: TRENTON, NEW JERSEY

July 11, l989