P.D.D. No. 2007 -2 1.
P.D.D. No. 2007-2
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
BEFORE A DESIGNEE OF THE
PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION
In the Matter of
TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD,
Public Employer,
-and- Docket No. PD-2007-001
BLOOMFIELD MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEES
ASSOCIATION,
Petitioner.
SYNOPSIS
The Bloomfield Maintenance Employees Association filed a petition for payroll deduction determination pursuant to N.J.S.A. 34:13A-5.5 and N.J.A.C . 19:19-2.2 requesting that the Commission order the Township of Bloomfield to deduct a representation fee in lieu of dues from the salaries of employees who are not voluntary dues paying members of the majority representative. The Commission Designee found that the Association = s petition met all of the requirements under the statute and rules and that the Association was entitled to a Commission order directing the Township to institute the deduction of the representation fee.
P.D.D. No. 2007-2
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
BEFORE A DESIGNEE OF THE
PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION
In the Matter of
TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD,
Public Employer,
-and- Docket No. PD-2007-001
BLOOMFIELD MAINTENANCE EMPLOYEES
ASSOCIATION,
Petitioner.
Appearances:
For the Public Employer,
Louise Palagano, Administrator
For the Petitioner,
Murray & McGrath, attorneys
(Julie A. Murray, of counsel)
DECISION
On October 24, 2006, the Bloomfield Maintenance Employees Association (Association) filed a Petition for Payroll Deduction Determination with the Public Employment Relations Commission (Commission) seeking an order directing the Township of Bloomfield (Township) to deduct representation fees in lieu of dues from the salaries of non-member employees in a negotiations unit consisting of all full-time employees in the Maintenance Division of the Department of Public Works employed by the Township; but excluding managerial executives (Public Works Superintendent - Maintenance), supervisors (Foreman) and part- time, temporary or seasonal employees. The petition was filed pursuant to N.J.S.A. 34:13A-5.5 and N.J.A.C . 19:19-2.2. Proper service was effected upon the Township. The law authorizes the Commission to conduct an investigation and to order a payroll deduction of representation fees in lieu of dues if a majority of employees in the negotiations unit are voluntary dues paying members of the majority representative and the majority representative maintains a demand and return system as required by N.J.S.A. 34:13A-5.6. The Association has filed documents in support of its claim that a majority of employees in the unit are voluntary dues paying members of the union and that it maintains the required demand and return system.
Pursuant to N.J.A.C . 19:19-2.1, the Association served the Township with the petition and documents on or about October 20, 2006. The Township did not comply with its requirement in N.J.A.C . 19:19-3.2(a) to file a response to the petition. Therefore, pursuant to N.J.A.C . 19:19-3.2(b), all allegations in the petition are admitted and deemed true.
The investigation has revealed the following:
1. The Township and the Association have negotiated concerning the subject of representation fees in lieu of dues, but no agreement has been reached regarding such payments.
2. The Association is the majority representative of a collective negotiations unit consisting of all full-time employees in the Maintenance Division of the Department of Public Works employed by the Township; but excluding managerial executives (Public Works Superintendent - Maintenance), supervisors (Foreman) and part-time, temporary or seasonal employees.
3. The list of dues paying members attached to the Association's petition is deemed accurate.
4. The negotiations unit consists of 27 employees, of which 19 (70%) are currently voluntary dues paying members of the Association.
5. The Association maintains a demand and return system as required by N.J.S.A. 34:13A-5.5(c) and 5.6.
Consequently, having found that the Association has satisfied the conditions mandated in N.J.S.A. 34:13A-5.5 and N.J.A.C . 19:19-2.2, I find that it is entitled to the receipt of a representation fee in lieu of dues from unit employees who are not dues paying members of the Association, subject to compliance with the Public Employment Relations Commission Appeal Board rules, N.J.A.C. 19:17-1.1 to -4.5.
ORDER
The Township of Bloomfield is ORDERED to institute a payroll deduction of the representation fee in lieu of dues from the wages or salaries of the negotiations unit employees who are not members of the Bloomfield Maintenance Employees Association after being notified by the Association that it has complied with the requirements of N.J.A.C. 19:17-3.3 and -4.1.
The Township must post in all places where notices to employees are customarily posted, copies of the attached notice marked as Appendix A A. @ Copies of such notice shall, after being signed by the Respondent = s authorized representative, be posted immediately and maintained by it for at least sixty (60) consecutive days. Reasonable steps shall be taken to ensure that such notices are not altered, defaced, or covered by other materials.
Within twenty (20) days of receipt of this decision, notify the Commission Chair of the steps the Respondent has taken to comply with this order.
__________________________
Arnold H. Zudick
Commission Designee
DATED: November 20, 2006
Trenton, New Jersey
A request for review of this decision by the Commission may be filed pursuant to N.J.A.C . 19:19-4.1. Any request for review must comply with the requirements contained in N.J.A.C. 19:19- 4.3.
Any request for review is due by November 30, 2006.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A . 34:13A-5.5, the Public Employment Relations Commission must order a public employer to institute a payroll deduction of a representation fee in lieu of dues from the wages or salaries of employees in a negotiations unit who are not members of the majority representative if a majority representative petitions the Commission to conduct an investigation and the investigation shows that a majority of negotiations unit employees are voluntary dues paying members of the majority representative and that the majority representative maintains a demand and return system as required by N.J.S.A. 34:13A-5.5(c) and 5.6.
On October 24, 2006, the Bloomfield Maintenance Employees Association filed a Petition for Payroll Deduction Determination- Representation Fees. The Commission conducted an investigation and determined that a majority of employees in the Maintenance Division of the Department of Public Works are voluntary dues paying members of the Association and that the Association maintains a demand and return system as required by N.J.S.A . 34:13A-5.5(c) and 5.6. Accordingly, the Commission has ordered the public employer to institute a payroll deduction of the representation fee in lieu of dues from the wages or salaries of the negotiations unit employees who are not members of the Association after being notified by the Association that it has complied with the requirements of N.J.A.C. 19:17-3.3 and -4.1.
| Docket No. | PD-2007-001 |  | Township of Bloomfield |
| | | | (Public Employer) |
| Date: | | | By: | |
| | | | |
This Notice must remain posted for 60 consecutive days from the date of posting, and must not be altered, defaced or covered by any other material.
If employees have any question concerning this Notice or compliance with its provisions, they may communicate directly with the Public Employment Relations Commission, 495 West State Street, PO Box 429, Trenton, NJ 08625- 0429 (609) 984-7372
APPENDIX A A @
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