made by the fifteenth (15th) day of the succeeding month after such deductions were m
made.

elect not to become members of the Union and transmit the fee to the majority representative.

C. The fair share fee for services rendered by the Union shall be in an amount equal to the regular membership dues, initiation fees, and assessments of the Union, less the cost of benefits financed through the dues and available only to members of the Union, but in no event shall the fee exceed eighty-five (85%) percent of the regular membership dues, fees and assessments.

D. The sum representing the fair share fee shall not reflect the costs of financial support of political causes of candidates, except to the extent that it is necessary for the Union to engage in lobbying activity designed to foster its policy goals in collective negotiations and contract administration, and to secure for the employees it represents advances in wages, hours, and other conditions of employment which ordinarily cannot be secured through collective negotiations with the County.

E. Prior to January 1st and July 31st of each year, the Union shall provide advance written notice to the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission, the County, and to all employees within the unit the information necessary to compute the fair share fee for services enumerated above.

F. The Union shall establish and maintain a procedure whereby any employee can challenge the assessment as computed by the Union. This appeal procedure shall in no way involve the County or require the County to take any action other than to hold the fee in escrow pending resolution of the appeal.

G. The Union shall indemnify, defend, and save the County harmless against any and all claims, demands, suits, or other forms of liability that shall arise out of or by reason of action taken by the County in reliance upon salary deduction authorization cards or the

fair share assessment information as furnished by the Union to the County, or in reliance upon the official notification on the letterhead of the Union and signed by the President of the Union, advising of such changed deduction.

hours per week as noted elsewhere in this Agreement. A modified work schedule shall be available to all employees as mutually agreed to by the affected employee, the employer and the Union.

1. For 24 hour operations only, if any employee’s work schedule is changed, all time off which was pre-approved at the time of the change shall be honored. In addition, if there is a mandatory change in an employee’s work schedule after April 1 in any year, the affected employee may use his/her accumulated vacation, personal or compensatory time to maintain as days off their former regular days off which were contiguous to the previously approved vacation time.

D. Where more than one work shift per day within a given classification exists, employees will be given preference of shifts in accordance with their seniority. Such preference will be exercised only when vacancies occur or when for other reasons changes in the number of employees per shift are being made. In no instance, however, will a senior employee be required to wait longer than one (1) year in order to exercise his or her preference of shift over a less senior employee but such preference may only be exercised once within any twelve (12) month period and may not result in a less senior employee incurring a shift change more than once within any twelve (12) month period.

E. All employees covered by the Agreement shall receive a salary predicated on the appropriate hourly rate for their title multiplied by the actual number of hours that comprise their scheduled work week.

F. Dispatchers covered by this Agreement who are employed at the Camden County Communications Center shall work a twelve (12) hour shift and the daily benefits of such employees such as vacations, sick days, etc., shall accordingly reflect this length of shift.

ARTICLE III cont'd

For example a twelve (12) hour shift employee will receive two (2) sick days for each three (3) received by an eight (8) hour shift employee. However, with respect to discipline, a day shall be considered eight (8) hours. The County may discontinue the aforementioned twelve (12) hour shift.

B. Time and one-half the full time employee's rate of pay shall be paid for work under any of the following conditions:

1. All work performed in excess of the employee's regular hours of duty in anyone day.


2. All work performed in excess of the employee's regular hours of duty in anyone work week. Hours for which time and one-half or double time is paid shall not be included in the base weekly hours.


3. All work performed on Saturday and Sunday as such, except for those employees assigned on continuous operations.

4. Those employees whose regularly scheduled shift of duties requires them to work on a holiday shall receive time and one-half pay for the hours worked on that holiday, in addition to the holiday pay. Other employees who are required to
work on a holiday shall receive time and one-half pay for the hours worked on

D. Employees shall have the option of taking compensatory time in lieu of cash payment for overtime. If an employee chooses compensatory time in any instance, the amount of such time will be computed on the basis as set forth above. Compensatory time off must be scheduled and approved by the Department Head.

ARTICLE IV cont'd

E. Overtime work shall be distributed as equally as possible among employees within the same classification. Employees may be required to work a reasonable amount of

overtime. An employee may be excused from an overtime assignment provided he has presented a valid excuse which has been approved by the Department Head. However, the Department Head may require the employee with the least seniority to work an overtime assignment.

G. If overtime appears excessive in any department, division, agency or work area, the County and the Union will jointly conduct a cost benefit analysis and make recommendations to the County Administrator to address the issue.

H. With the exception of employees working at the Communications Center, voluntary overtime shall be distributed by classification and seniority from the most senior on a rotating basis beginning with the employee immediately following the last senior employee who worked. Mandatory overtime shall be distributed by classification and seniority from the least senior on a rotating basis beginning with the next senior employee immediately following the last employee who worked. In Communications all voluntary and mandatory overtime shall be distributed on a rotation based upon separately maintained alphabetical lists. At the Communications Center the practice of calling the first available personnel to fill vacancies where the need for overtime was not known prior to the beginning of the shift may be continued.

currently exist but as modified by Paragraph I below. New or additional employees hired during the term of this contract shall be governed by the pay scale as set forth in the
appropriate schedule. The lowest rate being paid in a classification shall be the hiring rate.

Department Head or Freeholder Chairman of the Department to the Board of Freeholders for approval, the Board of Freeholders may make such an adjustment in the hiring rate as they deem necessary to properly and justifiably fill a position.

basis of less than full-time service, or if, with the approval of the Board, the incumbent of any full-time position is accepted for employment on a part-time basis only, the rate of compensation provided for the position (unless otherwise stated) shall be proportionately reduced in computing the rate of compensation payable for part-time service.

E. When an employee changes title, then his or her salary shall be adjusted to receive the
same salary classification as the employee had in the former title. This provision shall be applicable to all changes in title within the County of Camden irrespective of whether the former title was covered by this Agreement. An employee changing titles after the signing of this Agreement whose former title was not subject to the same salary classification/step procedure contained in this Agreement, shall be placed in the salary classification/step which credits the employee with all years of service with the County and as if the employee had received a “satisfactory” evaluation each year.

year, spending at least fifty percent (50%) of his time in activities under the higher paid job. Employees undergoing on-the-job training will not be considered as performing
work in a higher paid classification. Such on-the-job training will not exceed twelve (12) consecutive weeks. Any employee undergoing on-the-job training will be paid at the rate of his own classification.

G. Those employees who, as a requisite of employment, are required by the County to wear specified uniforms (as opposed to conforming to a specified reasonable dress code) shall either be furnished those uniforms or receive a uniform allowance as set forth below.

Uniform allowances shall be pro-rated based upon the actual numbers of weeks on active pay status. The County will keep a record of the title or persons required to wear uniforms and will furnish a list to the Union President annually upon request. At the County's option, the County may provide uniforms and the maintenance thereof. If such option is exercised, the uniform maintenance allowances of this Section shall not be applicable.

1. Employees required to wear uniforms which are not supplied by the employer shall be granted a uniform allowance of $300 per year for 2003 which shall increase to $325 per year effective the first pay period of 2004 except that employees working at the Youth Center and/or the Communications Center shall receive a uniform allowance of $600 per year effective the first pay period of 2004 which shall increase to $650 per year effective the first pay period of 2005, and shall increase to $700 per year effective the first pay period of 2006.

H. Salaries authorized under this Agreement shall be interpreted as exclusive of maintenance costs (rooms and meals) for employees, where applicable. All employees at the Hospitals shall be treated equally as far as practicable in regard to lunch hours.

I. Employees covered under this Agreement will receive pay changes or increases as follows:

1. Effective first pay period of 2003 – 4% pay increase on the hourly rate.
2. Effective first pay period of 2004 - 4% pay increase on the hourly rate.
3. Effective first pay period of 2005 - 3.5% pay increase on the hourly rate.
4. Effective first pay period of 2006 - 3.5% pay increase on the hourly rate.
5. Effective first pay period of 2007 – 3.5% pay increase on the hourly rate.

J. The employees hired during calendar year 1981 will receive the 1978 annual salary as modified by Paragraph I. Employees hired during calendar year 1982 will receive the 1981 annual salary for the job classification unadjusted by the salary increment provided during 1982 in Paragraph I. All employees who are below Class III in salary classification shall be subject to the step procedure as set forth below and shall be

entitled, if qualified, to receive annual pay increments in addition to those as provided in Paragraph I above.

1. The County shall institute a performance evaluation system beginning January 1, 1987 for employees covered by this Agreement.

2. Commencing January 1, 1987, all employees below Class III, on or about their anniversary date, shall begin the first step in the evaluation system by mutually establishing the performance description and performance standards for their

position with their supervisor. If there is no mutual agreement, the supervisor shall have the right to establish the performance standards and performance description.
3. All employees will be evaluated on or about their anniversary date beginning in 1988 and the economic effect, if any, of the step procedure will be implemented effective on the employee's anniversary date beginning in 1988.

4. Commencing in 1989, employees seeking the economic benefit of the step

program shall be required to achieve a performance level of "satisfactory" or above in accordance with the procedures outlined below. The performance standards to be applied shall be as follows:

a. Beginning in 1989, all employees covered by this Agreement who were
hired between January 1, 1979 and December 31, 1981, shall have applied to them a performance standard of "satisfactory” or above, on their
anniversary date during the year 1989 and thereafter in order to move up one step. For the year 1989, all employees hired since January 1, 1982
must achieve a performance standard of "better than satisfactory" or higher in order to move up one step.
b. Beginning in 1990, all employees covered by this Agreement who were hired between January 1, 1982 and December 31, 1984 shall have applied to them a performance standard of "satisfactory" or above on their anniversary date during the year 1990 and thereafter in order to move up one step. For the year 1990, all employees hired since January 1, 1985 must achieve a performance standard of "better than satisfactory" or higher in order to move up one step.

c. Beginning in 1991, all employees covered by this Agreement shall have applied to them a performance standard of "satisfactory" or above on their anniversary date during the year 1991 and thereafter in order to move up one step.

6. All employees who hold a title where there exists a minimum and maximum salary within each salary classification shall effective on their anniversary date in 1988, have their salaries adjusted so as to receive the maximum salary for their salary classification. All minimum salaries for these positions shall be eliminated as of December 31, 1988. All employees so affected shall begin the performance evaluation system as set forth in paragraphs 2 through 5 above beginning on their anniversary date in 1988 and the economic effect, if any, of the step procedure for these employees will be implemented effective on the employee's anniversary date beginning in 1989.

7. The provisions in Paragraph 4 above shall be subject to Article XXV, Grievance Procedure through and including Step Three only.

Step 4 3.50% increase
Step 5 3.50% increase
(Present Class III) Step 6 top step on salary schedule

covered by this Agreement at the time they transferred to state employment as part of the state takeover of the courts shall be entitled to the benefits of this provision.

M. Employees who are members of the Emergency Response Team at the Division of Health and who are on call during non-scheduled work hours shall receive $.75 per hour for such on-call time. Employees performing HazMat response duties shall receive an additional two thousand dollars ($2,000) added to the base salary for their title.

N. All titles which are designated "bilingual" shall be paid a minimum of$500 more per year at the top step of the salary step procedure beginning with the first pay period of 2000 than the same title without the bilingual designation. Where a bilingual title exists but is vacant and the salary for that title is more than $500 higher at the top step of the salary step procedure than the same title without the bilingual designation, the salary for the bilingual title shall be reduced so as to establish the $500 differential at the top step of the salary step procedure.

O. Effective pay period one of 2000, any shift employee working in a 24 hour operation at the Communication Center who is the A.O.I.C. and is designated to act as Lieutenant or is the Lieutenant and designated to act as Watch Commander shall be paid the rate applicable to that of the higher position for all hours spent working in the higher capacity so long as it exceeds one hour per shift.


ARTICLE VI cont'd

P. Any shift employee working in 24 hour operations who possesses the appropriate certificates to function as a call taker and dispatch both police and fire/ambulance shall receive a five hundred dollar ($500) stipend annually. Any PST working at the Communications Center who is a certified training officer shall receive a $300 stipend annually. The selection of future certified training officers shall be at the discretion of management.

Q. A new salary shall be established for state certified Alcohol and/or Drug Abuse Counselor titles, up to and including the Principal title in the series, which shall be $300 more per year, on base, above the Alcohol and/or Drug Abuse Counselor titles.

long as substantially similar benefits as exist under the 1979 contract are provided, except as provided below:

Maximum out of pocket cost to employee per year, per prescription card (includes costs for all dependents covered by the card):

Maximum out of pocket cost to employee per year, per prescription card (includes
costs for all dependents covered by the card):

Maximum out of pocket cost to employee per year, per prescription card (includes costs for all dependents covered by the card):

Maximum out of pocket cost to employee per year, per prescription card (includes costs for all dependents covered by the card):

2. Employees and their dependents are encouraged to use generic prescription drugs. If a drug is on the state formulary list and the doctor does not specify that only a brand name may be used, the pharmacist will substitute the generic equivalent, if available. If the doctor specifies "dispense as written", the pharmacist must dispense whatever is specified and the participant shall pay only the co-pay. If the participant, however, specifically requests a brand name, the participant shall pay the difference in price between the generic and non-generic prescription drug in addition to the co-pay.

3. Employees are encouraged to utilize the services of "Preferred Providers". The County will be responsible for designating such "Preferred Providers". This program is strictly voluntary and shall not reduce the level of benefits currently provided pursuant to the County's self-insured health benefit program.

b. Certain other "Preferred Providers" as designated by the County may be made available to enrolled and non-enrolled employees on a voluntary case-by-case basis.

c. Notwithstanding the provisions of (a) above, employees may opt out of a "Preferred Provider" program during the period of open enrollment in order to enroll in an HMO program.

a. In the event any participant covered by the County’s self-insured health benefits program contemplates any of the elective (non-emergency) surgical procedures set forth below, a second opinion by another qualified doctor is mandatory and must be submitted. If no second opinion is submitted, the County will only pay for fifty percent (50%) of the total cost of said surgery and all related treatment and services. Participants contemplating elective surgery which requires a second opinion must contact the administrator of the County's Self-Insured Benefits Program to arrange for said second opinion, which shall be provided at no additional cost to the participant.

ELECTIVE PROCEDURES REQUIRING SECOND OPINION

1. Bunionectomy
2. Cataract Removal
3. D & C (Dilation and Curettage)
4. Hemorrhoidectomy
5. Herniorrhaphy
6. Hysterectomy
7. Knee Surgery
8. Spinal and Vertebral Surgery
9. Ligation and Stripping of Varicose Veins
10. Mastectomy or other Breast Surgery
11. Prostatectomy
12. Submucous Resection
13. Tonsillectomy and/or Adenoidectomy

b. All hospitalizations of a non-emergency nature must be pre-certified to verify the necessity of, and authorize the length of, an overnight hospital stay before a participant enters the hospital. Participants or their attending physicians must contact the Pre-certification Administrator to arrange for this pre-certification. Denial decisions by the Certification Administrator may be appealed to the County Director of Insurance who shall be bound by the employee's doctor, which doctor will have the final say as to the necessity and length of hospital stay for the selected procedure. If any employee does not follow this procedure, the County's self-insured plan will only pay fifty percent (50%) of the costs associated with the selected procedure.
5. All of the elective (non-emergency) minor surgical procedures set forth below will be considered as covered benefits under the County's self-insured health benefits program 9.1lY when performed on an out-patient basis unless the participant's doctor certifies in advance to the program's administrator, and in writing that special medical circumstances require that the procedure be performed in a hospital.
PROCEDURES WHICH MUST BE PERFORMED ON AN OUTPATIENT BASIS
1. Tonsillectomy and/or Adenoidectomy
2. Simple hernia repair
3. Excision of skin lesions and cysts
4. Minor gynecological procedures
5. Cataract Removal
6. Dilation and Curettage
7. Tubal Ligation
8. Knee Surgery
9. Bunionectomy
10. Submucous Resection
11. Biopsies
12. Correction of Hammer Toe
13. Removal of Foreign Body
14. Vasectomies
15. Bronchoscopy
16. Laryngoscopy
17. Minor Fractures

ARTICLE VII cont'd

6. Where a participant is required by his/her doctor to undergo diagnostic tests prior to surgery being performed, to be considered a covered benefit under the County's self-insured health benefits program, such pre-admission testing must be
performed on an out-patient basis unless the participant's doctor certifies in advance to the program's administrator, and in writing, that special medical circumstances require that the procedure be performed in a hospital.
7. There will be no benefits paid under the County's self-insured health benefits program for any treatment provided in a hospital emergency room except where the treating doctor certifies in writing that such treatment was necessitated by an accident or life saving emergency.

8. Participants in the County's self-insured health benefit program are encouraged to carefully review all bills they receive for covered benefits under the program. If a participant discovers an error in a bill submitted to the Administrator for payment under the program, which results in an overcharge to the County, the participant shall either advise the Administrator in writing of the error in question or contact the provider directly and have the bill corrected. Upon the submission of acceptable written documentation, the participant shall be entitled to a refund of fifty percent (50%) of the amount saved as a result of the correction of the error, up to a maximum of $1 00 per bill.

9. When any payment is made under the County's self-insured health benefits program, the County shall be subrogated to all the rights of recovery of the participants against any third party. Participants will be required to enter into subrogation agreements to this effect as appropriate.

10. Effective January 1, 1993, Mental Health and Substance Abuse benefits under the County's self-insured health benefits program will be covered at a rate of90/10 co-insurance for both in-patient and out-patient treatment, with each type of treatment covered equally.

11. Effective January 1, 1993, benefits for chiropractic care under the County's self- insured health benefits program will be limited to a maximum of 12 visits per year unless a physician's order requires otherwise.

12. Effective January 1, 1993, the County's self-insured health benefits program will change from a coordination of benefits program to a maintenance of benefits program. The new maintenance of benefits will apply when the self-insured plan is secondary for any dependent's medical claim or retirees claim. Maintenance of benefits means that the self-insured plan pays the balance of the claim up to the

amount that the self-insured plan would normally cover - as if it were the primary plan.

B. The County will reimburse an employee on active pay status for the premium cost of the Medicare Plan when the employee or his spouse reaches age 65, but only for a maximum of a six (6) month period prior to retirement. The parties agree to reopen negotiations with respect to this provision if the laws governing Medicare should change during the term of this Agreement.

C. The County will pay health insurance premiums for a plan providing benefits as required in Section A above for a County employee who has retired after twenty-five (25) years of service with the County. Any retiree age 65 or older who is receiving health benefits from the County through an HMO must enroll in a Medicare plan, if available, no later than three (3) months after retirement, and remain enrolled so long as the Medicare plan is equal to or better than the traditional HMO being provided. Retirees may change their health care provider during the annual open enrollment period or if they relocate to an Area which is not served by their current provider.
D.
1. The County will pay or cause to be paid to the Council #10 Health and Welfare Fund the sum of $350 per year for each employee who is a member of the representative or for whom the representative is the bargaining agent.

2. The Representative agrees to save and hold harmless the employer from any liability arising out of the administering of the fund to which this sum shall be paid on behalf of each employee as stated above, and further agrees to make available to the employer audits or reports dealing with said funds on June 30, 1983, and each June 30th thereafter.


E. Eligible employees covered by this Agreement may choose, in writing, at any time, to participate in the “Optional Health Benefits Program” (“opt out”). Participation in this program is totally voluntary and is intended for those eligible employees who are covered by health insurance through a working spouse who is not also employed by the County or who choose not to maintain the County’s health coverage. Employees who hold elective office and are receiving health insurance benefits as a result of their elected office and employees who are receiving health insurance benefits as a result of their retirement from another public entity in New Jersey are not eligible for opt out.

No health and/or prescription opt out is permitted for spouses or dependents if both are on the County payroll and would otherwise be eligible for benefits. However, such employees who are currently receiving opt out will be permitted to continue to receive an opt out payment until the first pay period of 2008, in declining percentage amounts over the term of this contract as follows. Upon the signing of this Agreement, these employees will receive 80% of the amount they otherwise would have been paid as set forth in Section E(3) below. Effective the first pay period of 2005, they will receive 60% of the opt out amount they would otherwise have received. Effective the first pay period of 2006, that amount will be reduced to 40% and effective the first pay period of 2007, the amount will be reduced to 20%. Effective the first pay period of 2008 and thereafter, their opt out payment will cease in entirety. This schedule for the reduction and elimination of opt out payments for such employees will be applicable to both active employees and those who retire during the term of this Agreement.

1. If an eligible employee chooses to participate in this program and drops employee and/or spouse and/or dependent coverage, the eligible employee shall receive a monetary incentive.

2. Eligible employees who opt to participate in this program must do so for a minimum of one (1) year at a time. However, if an eligible employee chooses to participate and then the spouse’s coverage is terminated, upon proper verification of termination, the County will restore the employee, his or her spouse and/or dependents to coverage under the County’s Self-Insured Plan for the remainder of that year, effective the first day of the following month. If the employee desires to reinstate HMO coverage he or she will be required to wait until the next open enrollment period. The employee can opt out any time during the year but must remain in the program for one full year.

3. All employees who are entitled to receive opt out and are not subject to the phase out set forth above and who elect to participate shall be paid the following amounts on a monthly basis:


Health Insurance

Change in Coverage Opt Out Amount Paid

From Family to No Coverage $415.83
From Parent/Child to No Coverage 242.13
From Husband/Wife to No Coverage 307.94
From Single to No Coverage 143.16
From Family to Parent/Child Coverage 173.70
From Family to Husband/Wife Coverage 107.89
From Family to Single Coverage 272.68
From Parent/Child to Single Coverage 98.98
From Husband/Wife to Single Coverage 164.79


Prescription Benefits

From Family to No Coverage 174.33
From Husband/Wife to No Coverage 174.33
ARTICLE VII cont'd

From Parent/Child to No Coverage 102.63
From Single to No Coverage 60.29
From Family to Parent/Child Coverage 71.71
From Family to Single Coverage 123.04
From Parent/Child to Single Coverage 42.34

4. The incentive payments provided shall be paid monthly and appropriate deductions shall be made from the gross incentive amount.

5. The optional health benefits program shall be available to all new eligible employees on their hire date and shall be available to all eligible current and prospective retirees under the same terms and conditions applicable to active employees.

6. The incentive shall begin to be paid to the eligible employee no later than one month after the effective date of the option.

ARTICLE VII cont'd

G. All participants in an HMO shall be subject to a five dollar ($5.00) co-pay for all visits to a primary physician. Effective upon the signing of this Agreement, all participants in an HMO and the PPO shall be subject to a ten dollar ($10) co-pay for all visits to a primary physician and a co-pay of fifteen dollars ($15) for all visits to a specialist

H. Effective January 1, 1999, the County shall provide as a covered benefit (1) mammograms once yearly for all female employees and/or dependents over age forty, or more frequently, or at an earlier age, if a physician so prescribes; and (2) pap smears of the type prescribed by the employee's or dependent's physician once annually or more often as prescribed by employee's or dependent's physician because of a particular medical condition and/or family history.

I. Effective upon the signing of this Agreement, employees shall be responsible for extra costs, up to a maximum of $3,000, incurred by the County if there is a change in an employee’s life status (divorce, death of spouse, etc.) which would affect their health and prescription benefits and the employee does not report it to the County Insurance Division within 90 days of the event.

J. The County shall implement a Section 125 Premium Conversation Plan which will permit the payment of certain employee contributions in pre tax dollars.

K. Effective upon the signing of this Agreement, County employees who are the dependents of another County employee, and who are otherwise eligible for health benefits, must chose one type of health benefit coverage only.

L. Effective January 1, 2003, the County shall provide as a covered benefit all prescription contraceptive medications and devices.

or injury; exposure to contagious disease; care, for a reasonable period of time, of a seriously ill member of the employee's immediate family; or death in the employee's immediate family, for a reasonable period of time.

Administrative Code and shall be modified to conform with any changes, additions or deletions made to the Code.

D. Sick leave shall accrue for regular full-time employees at the rate of one (1) day per

month during the first calendar year of employment and one and one-quarter (1 ¼) days per month per year in every calendar year of employment thereafter, and shall accumulate from year to year. Part-time permanent employees shall be entitled to sick leave on a pro-rated basis. Sick leave must be earned before being taken.

F. At the discretion of the Department Head, the employee seeking sick leave for personal illness or injury may be required to submit medical evidence to substantiate his/her request so long as the employee is advised in advance of the requirement. Failure to
provide adequate medical evidence may result in the denial of sick leave benefits, and the employee will suffer a loss of his pay for any authorized time period. In the event the employee has exhausted his accumulated sick leave and is sick, the absence may be charged to the employee's vacation, if any, provided that the employee agrees and further provided that such use of vacation time will not be used to circumvent either the
ARTICLE VIII cont'd


provisions or the intent of Article XXII, Strikes and Lock-outs.

G. Abuse of sick leave will be cause for disciplinary action.

H. Sick leave claimed by reason of quarantine or exposure to contagious disease may be approved upon the certification of the local Public Health Department.

I. Full-time temporary employees in the County service shall be entitled to sick leave in the same amount and for the same reasons as provided for permanent employees.

J. Beginning in year 2000, employees regularly assigned to shifts in 24 hour operations may sell back their unused accumulated sick time up to a maximum of 15 days per year at

their current rate of pay. Employees must submit their request to sell back accumulated sick time by December 1 of the current year. Payment shall be made by the County no later than January 15 of the following year. These employees have the right to elect to continue accumulating sick leave as per civil service rules or take cash payment as provided above.

.

shall be credited to the employee's account as of January 1st of the following year. All vacation leave taken in that year shall be initially charged against this additional earned vacation leave, and then against earned vacation leave pursuant to Article XXI. No

calendar year the employee used 15 days of sick leave, unless that sick leave was used in conjunction with a hospital stay of three (3) days or more. Additional vacation time earned must be used within two (2) years of its being credited or it will be lost. The

operation.

1. In State Court, the employee shall serve without loss of pay and is allowed to retain any stipend for services.





2. In Federal Court, the employee shall receive full pay plus a maximum stipend of five ($5.00) dollars paid by the Federal Court. All monies received by the employee in excess of five ($5.00) dollars paid by the Federal Court in services as a Federal Juror shall be returned to the County Treasurer's office.

B. In the event of the death of an employee's mother-in-law, father-in-law, grandmother, grandfather, grandchild, brother, or sister the employee shall be granted three (3) days off without loss of pay, one of which shall be the day of death or the day of the funeral. Bereavement leave must be used within fourteen (14) calendar days of death.

C. In the event of the death of an employee's brother-in-law or sister-in-law, the employee shall be granted two (2) days off without loss of pay, one of which shall be the day of death or the day of the funeral. Bereavement leave must be used within fourteen (14) calendar days of death.

A. Requests for maternity leave shall be made in writing no later than the third (3rd) month of pregnancy.

B Except for reasons of health or inability to perform her job, the pregnant employee shall be permitted to work providing the attending physician approves and so advises in writing.

C. Such employees shall be granted earned and accumulated sick leave during the time prior to the expected date of confinement and for one (1) month after the actual date of birth. Additional time beyond the one (1) month period shall be granted for reasons of the employee's individual health upon presentation of a doctor's certificate setting forth the necessity therefore.

business, household, or family matters described in this Article. Personal days shall be non-accumulative. Employees working in the Surrogate's Office shall receive three (3) such personal days.

C. Personal, household, or family refers to matters when the employee's absence from duty is necessary for the welfare of the employee or his family.

D. Request for a personal day along with the reasons therefore, must be submitted at least three (3) full working days in advance and is subject to approval of the employee's supervisor. Emergency days may be granted for an unforeseen occurrence which necessitates the presence of the employee and for which the individual had no prior knowledge and is unable to resolve the situation outside the workday. Personal leave will not be granted if it interferes with the manpower needs of the department.

E. A personal emergency day shall not be granted for a day preceding or following holidays or vacations.

F. Those employees working a twelve (12) hour shift and who are employed at the Camden County Communications Center shall receive twelve (12) hours for one of the four (4) personal days referred to in Section A of this Article.

of work (morning and afternoon and equivalent periods of shift work). Unused break times shall not be credited or accumulated.

C. Where employees, as a condition of their job, are required to use their vehicles for

official County business, said employees will declare such use on their application for automobile liability insurance. Upon presentation by them of an invoice from their insurance carrier evidencing an increased premium for business coverage, the County will pay ten dollars ($10) to the affected employee on an annual basis.

E. An employee who is assigned to work at a location outside Camden County shall be reimbursed at the applicable IRS rate per mile for the distance between the Camden County border and the assigned work location, to be calculated based on the most direct route from the employee’s regular Camden County work location and the assigned out- of-County site.

with his original date of hire. Employees who are laid off by the County and are subsequently re-employed by the County in any capacity within seven years of the effective date of layoff shall receive seniority credit for all time worked for the County prior to layoff with respect to all provisions of this Agreement.

C. For employees with the same total length of service, seniority preference shall be given in alphabetical order of the employee's last name.

D. The employer shall maintain an accurate, up-to-date seniority roster showing each employee's date of hire, classification, and pay rate and shall furnish copies of same to the Representative upon request.

E. Except where New Jersey Civil Service statutes require otherwise, in cases where provisional promotions, demotions, lay-offs, recalls, and vacation schedules are concerned, an employee with the greatest amount of seniority shall be given preference provided he has the ability to perform the work involved and further provided that the exercise of such will have no adverse effect on productivity.

holidays: New Year's Day; Martin Luther King Day; Presidents Day; Good Friday; Memorial Day; Fourth of July; Friday before Labor Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; General Election Day; Veterans' Day; Thanksgiving Day; and Christmas Day.

C. It is understood that there shall be only one (1) day of celebration in the event the holidays are celebrated on a day other than the actual day of said holiday, and no additional day shall be received because of the adjustment on the day of celebration.

D. Holidays which fall on Saturday shall be celebrated on the preceding Friday. Holidays which fall on a Sunday shall be celebrated on the following Monday. This shall not apply to employees working in 24 hours operations at the Communications Center or the Youth Center.

E. When the Board of Freeholders declare by formal action a day off for all County Employees, those who are required to work on such a day off shall be given a compensatory day at a later date. This provision has no applicability when holidays are declared or granted pursuant to a contract with other Representative Associations or Unions. Employees who work more than one half the day will receive a whole day as compensatory time. The granting by the Board of Freeholders of a day off or a holiday in addition to those enumerated in Section A shall not be considered as a precedent and is subject to Freeholder approval each and every time such day off or holiday is granted.

F. In order to be eligible to receive holiday pay as set forth in Article IV, Paragraph B, an employee must work the day before and the day after the holiday, unless he or she is specifically scheduled to be off because of assignment to a continuous operation shift or the employee is on an approved leave. If an employee is serving a suspension on a day before or a day after a holiday and as a result is disqualified from receiving holiday pay under this Section, the holiday shall be counted as a day of suspension.

G. Those employees who are required by law to be off on Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays shall receive those days as paid holidays instead of President's Day, and shall be entitled to three (3) personal days under Article XV, Section A except as modified in that Article and Section.

additional rate of 10% of the hourly rate provided such employee's regular work day schedule is seven (7) or more hours.

2. Employees permanently assigned to the 3rd shift shall be compensated at an additional rate of 8% of the hourly rate, provided such employee's work day schedule is seven (7) or more hours.

3. If an employee's hours of work overlap between the 1st and 2nd shift, for the convenience of the employer, differential pay shall be paid for those hours.

4. Effective the first pay period of 1996, housekeeping employees permanently assigned to positions on the second shift shall receive shift differential equal to an additional five percent (5%) of their hourly rate which differential shall increase to ten percent (10%) of their hourly rate effective the first pay period of 1997.

1. Permanent full-time employees in the County service shall be entitled to the following annual vacation with pay:

a. Up to one year of service, one working day for each month of service.

b. After one year and up to ten years of service, twelve (12) working days vacation.

c. After ten years and up to fifteen years of service, eighteen (18) working days vacation.

d. After fifteen years and up to twenty years of service, twenty (20) working days vacation.

e. After twenty years and up to twenty-five years of service, twenty-five (25) working days vacation.

f. After twenty-five years of service, twenty-eight working days vacation.


2. Temporary full-time employees in the County Service shall be entitled to vacation leave to the same extent such leave is provided for permanent employees.

3. Permanent part-time employees shall receive vacation leave on a pro-rated basis, in accordance with the above schedule.

4. Shift employees employed in a 24 hour operation shall be entitled to the following annual vacation with pay based upon prorated vacation entitlement as defined in Article III Section F if applicable.

a. Up to one year of service, one (1) working day's vacation for each month of service.

b. After one year and up to ten years of service, twelve (12) working days vacation.

c. After ten years and up to twenty years of service, eighteen (18) working days vacation.

d. After twenty years of service, twenty-five (25) working days vacation.

vacation schedule for the calendar year. Failure to submit such a request by April 1st will result in a loss of seniority preference for the employee. The scheduling of all vacations
is subject to approval of the employee's Department Head. For vacations of one (I) week or longer the Department Head will advise the employee of the approval or disapproval of the requested vacation time.

D. If an employee dies having vacation credits, a sum of money equal to the compensation figured on his salary rate at the time of death shall be calculated and paid to his estate.

E. Vacation time cannot be used for sick time without the express written consent of the employee.

F. Where in a calendar year, the vacation leave or any part thereof is not used, such vacation periods shall accumulate and any unused vacation resulting from the pressure of work as determined by the County may be carried forward into the next succeeding year only and will be scheduled to be taken in the succeeding year. Denial of vacation time, shall be given to the employee in writing. If, in the second year, due to the pressure of work as determined by the County, the employee still has accumulated vacation that will be lost, the employee has a right to sell that time only. Such request shall be made in writing by December 1st. All vacation time taken shall be initially charged against vacation time earned in accordance with Article VIII, Section L, and then against vacation time earned pursuant to this Article.

any of its members take part in any strike (i.e., the concerted failure to report for duty or willful absence of any employee from his position, or stoppage of work, or absence in whole or in part, from the full, faithful and proper performance of the employee's duties
of employment), work stoppage, slow-down, walk-out, or other illegal job action against the County. The Union agrees that such action would constitute a material breach of this Agreement.

C. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to limit or restrict the County in its right to seek and obtain such judicial relief as it may be entitled to have in law or in equity for injunction or damages, or both, in the event of such breach by the Union or its members.

D. The County agrees that it will not engage in the lockout of any of its employees.

action and attachment(s) which are placed in an employee's file. All employees shall have the right to review their personnel files upon reasonable request.

solution to the problems which may arise affecting the terms and conditions of employment under this Agreement.

department. The County and the Union will meet periodically at either party's request to discuss and try to settle as many grievances as possible prior to a hearing at Step 3. Both parties commit to settle outstanding grievances without the time and expense of having to go through the process below.

by an individual employee or the Association on behalf of an individual employee or group of employees, from the interpretation, application or violation of
policies, agreements, and administrative decisions affecting them. With regard to the County, the term "grievance" as used herein means a complaint or controversy arising over the interpretation, application, or alleged violation of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
2. With respect to employee grievances, no grievance may proceed beyond Step One herein unless it constitutes a controversy arising over the interpretation, application, or alleged violation of the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Disputes concerning terms and conditions of employment controlled by statute or administrative regulation, incorporated by reference in this Agreement, either expressly or by operation of law, shall not be processed beyond Step One herein.

Step One: The aggrieved or the Union shall institute action under the provisions hereof within fourteen (14) calendar days after the event giving rise to the grievance has occurred, and an earnest effort shall be made to settle the differences between aggrieved employee and the immediate supervisor for the purpose of resolving the matter informally. Failure to act within said fourteen (14) calendar days shall be deemed to constitute an abandonment of the grievance.

Step Two: If no agreement can be reached orally within fourteen (14) calendar days of the initial discussion with the immediate supervisor, the employee or the Union may present the grievance in writing within fourteen (14) calendar days thereafter to the designated County representative. The written grievance at this Step shall contain the relevant facts and a summary of the preceding oral discussion, the applicable Section of this contract violated, and the remedy requested by the grievant. The designated County
representative will answer the grievance in writing within fourteen (14) calendar days of receipt of the written grievance.


Step Three: If the Union wishes to appeal the decision of the designated County Representative, such appeal shall be presented in writing within fourteen (14) calendar days thereafter to the Division of Human Resources to be scheduled for a hearing before a County designated Hearing Officer. The County and the Union shall attempt to agree on which matters are scheduled for presentation to the County Hearing Officer on each hearing date. If no agreement is reached, each party shall have the right to designate fifty percent (50%) of the matters to be heard.

Committee, such appeal shall be presented in writing to the County Administrator within fourteen (14) calendar days thereafter. This presentation shall include copies of all previous correspondence relating to the matter in dispute. The County Administrator, or his designee, shall respond in writing to the grievance within twenty (20) calendar days of the submission. In the case of Court employees, appeal at this step shall be to the Assignment Judge, whose decision shall be final.

Step Five: If the grievance is not settled through Steps One, Two, Three, and Four, either party shall have the right within fifteen (IS) work days to submit the dispute to arbitration pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Public Employment Relations Commission. The costs for the services of the arbitrator shall be borne equally by the County and the Union. Any other expenses, including but not limited to the presentation of witnesses, shall be paid by the parties incurring same.

2. The arbitrator shall be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and the Constitution and Laws of the State of New Jersey, and be restricted to the application of the facts presented to him involved in the grievance. The arbitrator shall not have the authority to add to, modify, detract from or alter in any way the provisions of this Agreement or any amendment or supplement thereto. The decision of the arbitrator shall be in writing with reasons therefore and shall be final and binding on the parties.

F. Upon prior notice to and authorization of the County Administrator, the designated Union Representative shall be permitted to confer with members of the Grievance Committee, employees, and other County officials on specific grievances in accordance with the grievance procedure set forth herein during work hours of employees, without loss of pay, provided the conduct of said business does not diminish the effectiveness of the County of Camden or require the recall of off-duty employees.

G. The time limits expressed herein shall be strictly adhered to. If any grievance has not been initiated within the time limits specified, or if the grievance is not processed to the next succeeding step in the grievance procedure within the time limits prescribed thereunder, then the disposition of the grievance at the last preceding step shall be

deemed to be conclusive. If a decision is not rendered within the time limits prescribed for decision at any step in the grievance procedure, then the grievance shall be deemed to have been denied. Nothing herein shall prevent the parties from mutually agreeing to extend or contract the time limits for processing the grievance at any step in the grievance procedure.

I. The Union Representative will notify the Labor Relations Committee in writing of the name of the employee who is designated by the Representative to represent employees under the grievance procedure. The employee so designated by the Representative will be permitted to confer with other representatives, employees, and with the committee representatives regarding matters of employee representation during working hours without loss of pay for periods not in excess of three (3) hours per week in any calendar week.

upon reasonable request of either party to discuss matters of general interest and concern, matters which are not necessarily a grievance as such. Such meetings shall be initiated by written request of either party, which shall reflect the precise agenda of the meeting. A seven (7) day advance notice will be given Council # 10 or the Board of Freeholders.

The parties further agree to establish a Labor-Management Committee to meet on a regular basis to discuss issues confronting the County and its work force. Topics shall include, but not be limited to, health care costs, layoffs, and training for displaced employees. The Committee shall consist of a mutually agreed upon number of members with half designated by the County and the other half designated by Council #10.

C. Agents of the Union who are employees of the County of Camden will be permitted to visit with employees during working hours at their work stations for the purpose of discussing Union representation matters, as long as there is no undue interference with

the Employer's work. Whenever any employee of the County who is a representative of the Union is mutually scheduled to participate during work hours in negotiations, grievance proceedings, conferences or meetings, he shall suffer no loss in regular pay or be charged with sick leave or vacation time. Employees will be allowed to leave their work stations up to one-half (1/2) hour prior to the meetings and will be required to return to their work station at the conclusion of the meeting provided there is at least one and one-half (1 ½ ) hours of work time remaining.

E. Part-time employees are those individuals employed under 30 hours per week.

Permanent part-time employees will earn vacation time, sick time, and personal days on a pro-rated basis. Temporary or provisional part-time employees do not receive personal days, vacation or sick time. Part-time employees employed under 20 hours per week are not entitled to Health Benefits or prescription plan. No part-time employees are entitled to overtime or earned compensatory time.

F. The County shall be responsible for printing, in booklet form, this Collective Bargaining Agreement within 60 days of its execution of the parties. The costs of printing will be shared equally by the parties. At least 2,000 copies shall be supplied to Council #10.

G. Effective upon the signing of this Agreement, the County will require a bargaining unit member assuming the presidency of Camden Council # 1 0 to waive his/her full salary and accept an annual salary of $7,500 for the duration of the term of office. During such period of time, the County agrees to continue to provide that employee with all health benefits, including prescription and appropriate Health and Welfare contribution and to continue contributions on the employee's behalf to PERS, but shall be obligated to provide no other contractual benefits. At the conclusion of said term of office, the County agrees to reinstate the employee to the then current contractual salary for the employee's title.

The County further agrees, effective November 1, 1993, to provide Camden Council #10 with reasonable office space for the rent of $1.00 per year in a centrally located County facility.

I. Representatives of the County and Council #10 shall meet, at either party's request, to discuss issues associated with the sell-back of compensatory time.

powers, rights, authority, duties and responsibilities conferred upon and vested in it prior to the signing of this Agreement by the laws and constitution of the State of New Jersey and of the United States, including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following rights:

1. The executive management administrative control of the County government and its properties and facilities and activities of its employees by utilizing personnel, methods, and means of the most appropriate and efficient manner possible as may from time to time be determined by the County.

2. To make rules of procedure and conduct, to use improved methods and equipment, to determine work schedules and shifts, to decide the number of employees needed for any particular time, and to be in sole charge of the quality and quantity of work required.

3. The right of management to make, maintain and amend such reasonable rules and regulations as it may from time to time deem best for the purposes of maintaining order, safety, and/or the effective operation of the Department after advance notice thereof to the employees to require compliance by the employees is recognized.

4. To hire all employees, and subject to the provisions of law, to determine their qualifications and conditions of continued employment, or assignment, and to promote and transfer employees.

5. To suspend, demote, discharge, or take any other appropriate disciplinary action against any employee for good and just cause according to law.


6. To layoff employees in the event of lack of work or funds or under conditions where continuation of such work would be inefficient and non-productive.


7. The County reserves the right with regard to all other conditions of employment not reserved to make such changes as it deems desirable and necessary for the efficiency and effective operation of the Department.

B. In the exercise of the foregoing powers, rights, authority, duties and responsibilities of the County, the adoption of policies, rules, regulations and practices and the furtherance thereof, and the use of judgment and discretion in connection therewith, shall be limited only to the specific and express terms of this Agreement and then only to the extent such specific and express terms hereof are in conformance with the Constitution and Laws of New Jersey and of the United States.

C. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to deny or restrict the County of its rights, responsibilities, and authority under R.S. 40A, or any other national, state, county, or local laws or regulations.

subject of negotiations, with the sole exception of those items contained in correspondence between Mr. Dorf and Ms. Crangle dated August 31, 1983 and December 2, 1983 respectively concerning twelve hour shift employees; three letters between Ms. Crangle and Mr. Dodson dated September 17, 1986 and a letter between Mr. Bezich and Ms. Crangle dated August 27, 1992 concerning the County's agreement to arrange parking within the City of Camden, at a reduced rate, for up to 200 cars.

respect to any such matter, whether or not covered by this Agreement, and whether or not within the knowledge or contemplation of either or both parties at the time they negotiated or signed this Agreement.

For the County of Camden For Camden Council No. 10

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Dated: ________________________ ____________________________

Dated: ______________________