We cannot afford to pay for the benefits and lack of accountability that our current agreements with the Fire,Police or other municipal unions offer. Residents are losing their jobs, taking pay cuts and absorbing benefit cuts. The rental market will not tolerate increased rents which will only drive landlords to dump property further decreasing values and therefore decreasing tax revenues. The benefits in our union contracts are 20 years out of date. Municipalities such as Union City are making their municipal workers pay a portion of benefit premiums. Comparing municipal benefits to the private sector is also relevant. It's been 20 years since the private sector had defined benefit plans, no premium sharing, the ability to accrue vacation time, etc. It's time to see these types of changes in the public sector. The following 8 demands must be incorporated into ALL of the City's union agreements. The representative appointed to negotiate on behalf of Hoboken's residents will be expected to represent these demands. Anything less is taxation without representation. 1) 'Right size' govt. Reduce number of workers per best practices determined by outside professionals. 2) Share benefits premiums - municipal workers must pay a portion of a High Deductible Medical premiums. 3) Eliminate 'special' vacation days (Christenings, Bar Mitzvahs, Weddings, etc.).All vacation must be deducted from the employee's regular vacation balance. 4) Eliminate the ability to accrue unused vacation and overtime towards retirement. Limit sick days to 10 per year. Eliminate terminal pay. 5) Re-structure Management Pay - Employees with managerial responsibility must work 10 hours of overtime at the regular rate before they are paid time and a half. 6) Re-structure tuition reimbursement -Tuition re-imbursement will only be granted for degrees that will enhance employees' performance in their current job. The employee must give the town 3 years of service after degree completion or they have to pay back the reimbursement. 7) Require all departments which consider full time less than 40 hours a week to bring their work week to a minimum of 40 hours. 8) Require full adherence to Hoboken's Expense Policy and Procedures. Lack of adherence, whether deliberate or accidental, is grounds for immediate termination.

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