CWA Local 1037 members at ARC of Essex overwhelmingly ratified a new contract with 99% voting YES! The new contract begins March 1, 2023 through February 28, 2026. The Bargaining Committee negotiated higher wages, higher longevity bonuses, increased carryover vacation time and sick time, increased clothing allowance, and more. View TA here. 

“Members are very pleased with this contract,” said Donna King, a Shop Steward on the Bargaining Committee. “They have gotten a significant raise – especially those who have been here for years. 90% of the people we met with were very happy, and it’s going to help retain workers.”

Adeline M. Clesca, also a Shop Steward on the Bargaining Committee agreed, “Everyone I’ve spoken to loves it. Everyone was happy about their raises, and eager to vote yes.”

“We got the best contract ever. Thanks to the support of all our members, we did a great job,” said Manuel Burse, a Shop Steward on the Bargaining Committee.

Thank you to those who participated in the ratification vote, and for standing united during the bargaining process. It is thanks to our solidarity that we have won this contract!

We have concluded our in-person meetings and Zoom calls to review the details of the Tentative Agreement for our new Union Contract between CWA Local 1037 and the ARC of Essex. Your Bargaining Committee believes this agreement meets the goals established through the Bargaining Surveys and recommends a YES vote to ratify this agreement.
 
If you weren’t able to attend the meeting, you can download a copy of the summary of the Tentative Agreement here. Please contact your Shop Stewards or Union Office if you have questions about the agreement.
 
As we discussed last night, members will have to vote to ratify the contract.
 
Voting will open at 8:00 am on Wednesday, March 1 and close at 3:00 pm on Thursday, March 2. Once voting opens, members will receive an email to their personal email address and a text to their cell phone with a link to voting instructions and the online secret ballot. The link each member receives is unique to them and will allow them to vote once. You should not share that link with anyone else.
 
If you do not receive a ballot, please contact the Union Office, or email the Local at info@cwa1037.org. If you would like to update your contact information, fill out this form or call the office at 973-623-1828.

If you are not a member of CWA Local 1037 and would like to vote on the agreement, you must become a member by completing and returning the Private Sector Electronic Dues Deduction Card to membership@cwa1037.org and mcamporeale@cwa1037.org by 12:00 pm, Thursday, March 2. The Dues Deduction Card can be downloaded here. You do not need to print the card to sign it, you can fill it out, type your name in the signature field, save the card as a PDF and email it back.
 
Again, your bargaining committee is recommending a YES vote to ratify the agreement. If you have any questions, please reach out!

CWA Local 1037 workers at Bergen’s Promise participated in a ratification vote for a new contract and overwhelmingly voted YES. The new contract begins retroactively from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2025. The Bargaining Committee negotiated salary increases, higher on-call rates and longevity stipends, a pilot telework program, and more. (View MOA here.)

“I think it’s a great contract. It’s going to help retention and continuity of services for the families we serve. I got a lot of good feedback from workers,” said Cole Campbelle, a Shop Steward and Care Manager at Bergen’s Promise. “I agree, this is going to help keep and recruit workers,” added Meghan Monroe, also a Shop Steward and Care Manager. “lt’s definitely one of the better contracts that recognizes and respects the difficult and important work that we do.”

Workers participated in a ratification vote earlier today, submitted their ballots, and posed for photos together in solidarity.