Search News
For the Media
For media inquiries, call CWA Communications at 202-434-1168 or email comms@cwa-union.org. To read about CWA Members, Leadership or Industries, visit our About page.
Card Check Gives NJ Prosecutors a Voice at Work
Armed with their state's new law allowing public employees to choose union representation by card check, 41 assistant prosecutors in Mercer County, N.J., have joined CWA Local 1034.
Local President Carla Katz said the Trenton-based prosecutors are the first unit organized by card check since July 19, when Gov. Dick Codey signed the pro-worker legislation. The measure enables employees not covered by the National Labor Relations Act to choose union representation, and was a key legislative priority of the New Jersey AFL-CIO and unions throughout the state.
Because Local 1034 represents other court employees in Mercer County, Katz said the prosecutors knew of the local's reputation and contacted her office after the law went into effect.
Once cards were signed and collected, union and management met with the Public Employment Relations Commission and reached agreement within 10 minutes to recognize the local as the workers' representative. Katz said she's optimistic that contract talks, which should be underway by the end of October, will also go smoothly.
Katz said her local will try to organize prosecutors in each of the other 20 counties in New Jersey. The local already has members in courthouses in every county, making it a good fit, she said, noting that prosecutors are eager to join.
"The Mercer County group went to a statewide prosecutors convention and everyone had heard about it, about them joining the union," she said. "It was the talk of the convention."
CWA locals and staff in New Jersey pushed hard for the organizing law, which was passed by wide, bipartisan majorities in both the General Assembly and the Senate.
Local President Carla Katz said the Trenton-based prosecutors are the first unit organized by card check since July 19, when Gov. Dick Codey signed the pro-worker legislation. The measure enables employees not covered by the National Labor Relations Act to choose union representation, and was a key legislative priority of the New Jersey AFL-CIO and unions throughout the state.
Because Local 1034 represents other court employees in Mercer County, Katz said the prosecutors knew of the local's reputation and contacted her office after the law went into effect.
Once cards were signed and collected, union and management met with the Public Employment Relations Commission and reached agreement within 10 minutes to recognize the local as the workers' representative. Katz said she's optimistic that contract talks, which should be underway by the end of October, will also go smoothly.
Katz said her local will try to organize prosecutors in each of the other 20 counties in New Jersey. The local already has members in courthouses in every county, making it a good fit, she said, noting that prosecutors are eager to join.
"The Mercer County group went to a statewide prosecutors convention and everyone had heard about it, about them joining the union," she said. "It was the talk of the convention."
CWA locals and staff in New Jersey pushed hard for the organizing law, which was passed by wide, bipartisan majorities in both the General Assembly and the Senate.