Title
Dept/ Agency: Offices of Municipal Council/City Clerk
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Urging/ Supporting/Opposing
Purpose: Urging the N.J. State Department of Education and the State-controlled Newark School Administration to resolve the long-standing contract stalemate with the non-instructional staff at Newark Public Schools.
Additional Information:
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WHEREAS, unionized, non-instructional workers of the Newark Public schools, have been without a salary increase for five years and are working without a Collective Bargaining Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Newark School Administration and the State Department of Education have made no meaningful effort to negotiate with the affected bargaining representatives: and
WHEREAS, these vital employees continue to perform difficult and important duties in a challenging environment; and
WHEREAS, a significant percentage of the non-instructional staff are women and minorities earning less than $10 per hour: and
WHEREAS, despite the lack of a new contract, the non-instructional staff has had to pay higher pension and benefit costs resulting in direct salary reductions; and
WHEREAS, the Newark schools have received hundreds of millions of dollars in private and public funding during the past five and one-half years but claim that funds are not available to negotiate with bargaining representatives; and
WHEREAS, the non-instructional staff deserve jobs and wages that allow them to support their families and be treated by their employer with dignity and respect;
WHEREAS; Good jobs and salaries lead to stable families and communities where children are able to thrive and learn.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The New Jersey Department of Education is urged to take immediate steps t...
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