East Brunswick settles with police on contracts
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK — After two years of arbitration, both police unions have new contracts with the township.

A state arbitrator ruled that the local Policeman’s Benevolent Association (PBA) and Superior Officers Association are entitled to 3.9-percent yearly pay increases, which is over half a percentile more than the township was offering, according to Township Business Administrator James White.

The contract, however, calls for police officers in both unions to pay more in terms of medical co-pays and deductibles.

The two-year negotiation process saw its share of acrimony, with some police officers expressing support earlier this year for Councilwoman Christi Calvano, who unsuccessfully challenged Mayor William Neary for his seat.

The contract is retroactive and covers 2003 and 2004, White said. Police were without a contractor both of those years.

White said the police unions, who filed for arbitration, were seeking 4.5-percent increases for each year of the new contract. They also wanted more time off, Neary said, something they did not receive.

As for the increased medical benefits, White said prescription co-pays will now be $5 for generic drugs an $10 for name-brand drugs. That’s up from $3 and $5, respectively.

Also, the traditional medical plan deductible is up. Those holding plans for single persons will see their deductibles go from $150 to $250, while those in family plans will see deductibles increase from $300 to $500, White said.

According to a memo White sent to the Township Council, the clothing allowance police receive did not increase but is being rolled into the salaries.

White said the current starting salary for a patrolman is $34,392, and the maximum an officer receives after reaching the fifth step is $70,018. Under the new contract, effective Jan. 1, those salaries will increase to $39,562 and $79,520.

As for the salaries of superior officers, they are broken down into rank, he said. The current starting salary for a sergeant is $80,472; lieutenant, $88,570; captain, $97,963; and deputy chief, $105,798. With the new contract, those salaries will be $91,284, $100,367, $110,903 and $119,690, respectively, for 2005. In 2006, they will go up another 3.9 percent.

As for past salary increases, White said the PBA, which represents only patrol officers, got a 3.55-percent increase in 2000; 3.5 percent in 2001; and 3.35 in 2002. Members of the superior officers union received a 3-percent increase in 2000; 3.5 percent in 2001; and 2.75 in 2002.

Neary said the new pay increases represent a higher percentage than that which the state allows municipal budget spending to increase each year. Regardless, he said his goal is to maintain staffing in this year’s municipal budget.

The department has just over 90 officers, each of whom works a little more than 200 days a year, he said.