NJAC, NJLM, NJMMA, and GFOA have joined forces to assemble an outstanding panel on how to navigate the failure of State leaders to permanently extend the 2% cap on binding interest arbitration awards 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. July 31.
The New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC), the New Jersey State League of Municipalities (NJLM), the New Jersey Municipal Managers Association (NJMMA), and the Government Finance Officers Association of New Jersey (GFOA) have joined forces to assemble an outstanding panel of finance officers, labor attorneys, and local governing body administrators that provide management with effective strategies and recommended best practices on how to navigate the un-level playing field created by the failure of State leaders to permanently extend the 2% cap on binding interest arbitration awards.
Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-11), an Interest Arbitration Task Force Member, will deliver the keynote remarks followed by leading labor attorneys Matthew Giacobbe and Joseph M. Hannon, who will address the current state of negotiations. Town of Boonton Administrator Neil Henry will provide a comprehensive case study and highly regarded finance officers Jon Rheinhardt and Gabriela Simoes Dos Santos will discuss the significance of analyzing and preparing critical financial data. The workshop will also recommend new legislative strategies to address the continued inaction of State leaders, which has inequitably altered the collective bargaining process in favor of labor at the expense of property taxpayers, and recommended best practices for management, some of which include: expecting aggressive and coordinated negotiating tactics from collective bargaining units; making sure to use general counsel and an experienced labor attorney to negotiate directly with collective bargaining units; preparing comprehensive financial analysis that includes a complete and accurate picture of a governing body’s ability to pay; compiling salary, wage, and fringe benefits data, and all other relevant information, to address false claims and statements made by collective bargaining units; and, staying strong on health benefit concessions, particularly with retirees and rolling back Chapter 78 requirements.
This important and timely workshop is scheduled for 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. on July 31 in Committee Room 4 of the State House Annex in Trenton. The event is free for public officials, but space is very limited, so please make sure to contact Kim Nolan at NJ Association of Counties knolan@njac.org if you plan on attending. Registration is closing soon.