NJ Union Caught Interfering With Turnpike Bidding Process Gets Shown the Exit
March 5th 2011 · 4 Comments
They could have been contenders. Unfortunately, though, the union representing the nearly 300 New Jersey Turnpike toll collectors took an opportunity for preferential hiring on the state’s plans to privatize collections and tried to interfere with the process. Now, the Garden State has shown them the exit (so to speak).
With the advent of automated systems like EZ Pass that give motorists the ability to breeze through toll booths and be billed monthly, unionized toll collectors and their often surly, threatening and abusive demeanors [Hey! It's Joisey!] are going the way of the milkman.
As a result of NJ Governor Chris Christie’s efforts to trim the New Jersey budget, plans have been made to outsource toll collections on the New Jersey Turnpike and Parkway. This has caused quite a battle in the Garden State, as the union representing the NJ Turnpike toll collectors has tried to convince the state not to open up to private bids.
According to Tollroads News, as the state went out to bid, the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Local 194 sent out a “confidential” letter to its members instructing them to essentially interfere with the bidding process. In so doing, the State added an addendum to the Request for Proposal (RFP) that eliminated the union members’ “first right of refusal” to jobs with any new employer.
In the February 8th letter to her members, union president Franceline Ehret instructs her members to “fill out resumes and apply for jobs with ALL of the companies” bidding.
She goes on to state:
This is CRITICAL. Many of these companies WILL NOT want to come here when they see all the UNION MEMBERS who want these jobs. Many of these companies won’t want to have to deal with a UNION SHOP or fight over UNIONIZING the workers.
Twenty-four (24) companies came to tour our facilities on Monday February 7th. When they saw our picket line, once company wouldn’t cross and said they weren’t bidding. It shows we can succeed in backing them off. [Emphasis in original.]
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Unfortunately for the union members, by paying a union that chose to fight using methods to make it and its members appear belligerent and foolish, the union has likely cost them the chance of getting jobs with whatever company becomes the new toll collector.
Though it’s not likely to happen, perhaps a dues refund is in order?
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“I bring reason to your ears, and, in language as plain as ABC, hold up truth to your eyes.” Thomas Paine, December 23, 1776
Photo credit: CeeKay’s pix
Tags: Chris Christie, New Jersey, NJ Turnpike
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Since when is trying to protect workers and their ability to support their family foolish or wrong? These private companies will turn decent middle class jobs into jobs with poverty level wages and little or no benefits. The union was asked for between $12 million and $14 million in concessions and offered management $16 million. What happened to the offer from management to negotiate? Management just cut it off with no explanation. Addressing the NJTP Commissioners, the Union and its members have been nothing but humble and polite, merely asking for fairness, with absolutely NO RESPONSE from the Authority management. Having workers apply for jobs is hardly belligerent and it did not violate any laws or rules.
I have only one thing to say this comment…they are NOT workers you Communist, they are employees! When you unions stop talking and acting like a bunch of Communist leaders maybe Americans will pay attention to you but while you do we are full force against the unions, all of them, period! I was raised to look for the union label, I am raising my children to look at the union crooks!
I’m thinking possibly the only job you were interested in “protecting” was that of Union President. You sure shafted the membership didn’t you?
Fran,
You aren’t by any chance overlooking the ‘confidential; do not post’ letter you signed above? Looking above at all the words you put in ALL CAPS, it’s obvious that you intended to make a point with your workers to conspire for restraint of trade. Of course, that’s OK in a socialist country. Citizens in capitalist countries perceive that a little more dimly, but your mistake is understandable: you thought you lived in a socialist country.
You are indeed in for the fight of your lives; you got that much right.