The Labor Point — Archive

A jury awarded former Trenton Police Director Sheilah Coley about $4.7 million on her whistleblower claim under New Jersey’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act; the city says it disagrees with the verdict and is reviewing post-trial options.

Source: NJ.com

Hudson County commissioners voted 8-1 to adopt an ordinance raising the board of elections clerk’s salary to $141,118 and the county fire marshal’s to $111,272, retroactive to July 1, after debate over comparability and growing job duties.

Source: Hudson County View

Pending Assembly legislation would let districts hire qualifying honorably discharged veterans as interscholastic coaches without a New Jersey teaching certificate or substitute credential, subject to criminal-history checks.

Source: SI High School

About 800 City of Portland Professional Workers members began striking Monday after Sunday mediation failed to produce a deal on pay and cost-of-living increases; the city says it has plans to maintain essential services.

Source: KPTV

Socorro ISD trustees approved a self-funded health plan option that shifts rising costs to employees, up to about $4,500 more a year for family coverage, while El Paso ISD’s AFT president warns some staff can no longer afford coverage.

Source: KFOX14

Davis Teachers Association members rallied outside a school board meeting as the district and union remain at impasse, citing family premiums up to $1,900 a month and the loss of more than 200 educators in four years.

Source: Sacramento Bee

Wayne Township Public Schools plans to leave the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program and self-fund coverage after the commission’s approved 34% premium hike for 2027, with officials saying the move could save money for employees and taxpayers.

Source: NorthJersey.com

Atlantic City PBA Local 24 says Thursday talks with the city ended with no formal offer; officers have been on MOUs since the state takeover, the latest MOU expired Dec. 31, and the union wants a fair, pensionable one-year deal—not a $5,000 stipend.

Source: Breaking AC News

With Democrats set to take both chambers, federal employee groups are pressing Congress to restore collective bargaining rights stripped by executive order and to revive a 2027 civilian pay raise — though veto and filibuster hurdles remain.

Source: FEDweek

About 800 Portland professional city workers say they will strike starting Nov. 9 unless Sunday’s mediated session yields a deal on cost-of-living adjustments, wage increases, and layoff protections.

Source: Portland Mercury

Modesto Teachers Association members cast strike-authorization ballots Thursday night after three failed mediation sessions over pay, health costs, and classroom conditions; ballot counting was set for Friday, and any walkout would still follow fact-finding.

Source: CBS Sacramento

Berkeley Heights teachers and the district are headed to mediation in December after the teachers' union declared negotiations at an impasse. Staff remain under the prior contract while talks continue.

Source: Summit Area News

West Orange teachers have been working without a contract since June 2025, with both sides filing for mediation amid pickets and a tight district budget.

Source: West Orange Patch

New Jersey's Communications Workers locals have opened the run-up to 2027 Executive Branch negotiations, with the current state contract set to expire June 30, 2027, and members being surveyed on bargaining priorities.

Source: CWA Local 1036

Notes from the Oct. 29 Berkeley Heights board meeting detail the teachers' union request for December mediation after declaring an impasse, with staff still covered by the prior contract.

Source: NJ21st

Federal employee unions are pressing Congress to restore collective bargaining rights stripped by executive order and to reverse a planned 2027 civilian pay freeze.

Source: Government Executive

Portland remains in mediation with its professional workers union, with a possible strike as early as Nov. 9, while a laborers unit has entered a cooling-off period after impasse.

Source: City of Portland

With Democrats set to take both chambers, federal unions are pressing Congress to restore collective bargaining rights and override a planned 2027 civilian pay freeze.

Source: Federal News Network

Federally mediated talks between Alton, Illinois, and striking Teamsters public-works employees made little progress on wages, with the next session at least two weeks out.

Source: The Telegraph