D.U.P. NO. 84-26

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION

BEFORE THE DIRECTOR OF REPRESENTATION

In the Matter of

WILLINGBORO BOARD OF EDUCATION,

WILLINGBORO EDUCATION ASSOCIATION,

EAWS AND WESA,

Respondent,

-and-	Docket No. ci-83-67

JOHN L. HORN,

Charging Party.

Appearances:

For the Respondent Board

Barbour & Costa, P.A.

(John T. Barbour, of counsel)

For the Respondent Associations

Selikoff & Cohen, P.A.

(Steven R. Cohen, of counsel)

For the Charging Party

John L. Horn, pro se

REFUSAL TO ISSUE COMPLAINT

On June 6, 1983, an unfair practice charge was filed with the Public Employment Relations Commission ("Commission") by John L. Horn ("Charging Party") against the Willingboro Board of Education ("Board") and the Willingboro Education Association, Employees Association of Willingboro Schools, and Willingboro Educational secretaries Association, affiliated with WEA (collectively, the "Respondent Associations") alleging that the Respondents were engaging in unfair practices within the meaning of the New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act, N.J.S.A. 34:13A-1 et seq. ("Act"). Specifically, Charging Party alleges that the Board violated §§ 5.4(a)(3), (4) and (7)1/ and that the Respondent Associations violated §§ 5.4(b)(1) and (5).2/

Charging Party alleges that "all [Respondents]. . . did engage in unfair practices in discriminating in regards to my hire," when on May 9, 1983, the Board failed to renew his employment contract as Foreman, Grounds Department, for the school year 1983-1984. Further, Charging Party alleged that the wife of his supervisor was among the Board members who voted against renewal. Additionally, he alleges that four Board members who voted against his renewal "were back [sic] by the three Unions 'WEA/PAC' Committee" and, therefore, the "WEA/PAC" Committee interfered with his continued employment.

N.J.S.A. 34:13A-5.4(c) sets forth in pertinent part that the Commission shall have the power to prevent anyone from engaging in any unfair practice, and that it has the authority to issue a complaint stating the unfair practice charge.3/ The Commission has delegated its authority to issue complaints to the undersigned and has established a standard upon which an unfair practice complaint may be issued. This standard provides that a complaint shall issue if it appears that the allegations of the charging party, if true, may constitute an unfair practice within them meaning of the Act and that formal proceedings in respect thereto should be instituted in order to afford the parties an opportunity to litigate relevant legal and factual issues.4/ The Commission's rules provide that the undersigned may decline to issue a complaint.5/

For the reasons stated below, it appears to the undersigned that the Commission's complaint issuance standards have not been met.

Initially, the undersigned notes that the Charging Party is not a member of any negotiations unit represented by the Respondent Associations. Thus, the Associations do not owe him a duty of fair representation. Nor does the Charging Party claim that he is being interfered with in his right to assist other employee representatives.

Although Charging Party has alleged "discrimination" by the Board under § 5.4(a)(3) he does not assert facts alleging that he was discriminated against in retaliation for any activities on behalf of an employee organization or for the exercise of any other protected activity under the Act. N.J.S.A. 34:13A-5.3. Rather, Charging Party's allegations are based upon a claim that the Board and the Association PAC actions were racially motivated and resulted in his termination as of June 30, 1983. In this regard, it has been determined by the Supreme Court that "the Legislature has established the State Division of Civil Rights as generally the most appropriate forum for resolving this issue."6/

Accordingly, for the above reasons the undersigned declines to issue a complaint.

BY ORDER OF THE ADMINISTRATOR

OF UNFAIR PRACTICE PROCEEDINGS

/s/Joel G. Scharff, Administrator

DATED:	April 5, 1984

Trenton, New Jersey