STATE OF NEW JERSEY

BEFORE THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION

APPEAL BOARD

OAL DKT. NO. PRB-3874-85

AGENCY DKT NO. AB-85-11

THOMAS A. HYCHALK,

Petitioner,

v.

COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS

OF AMERICA, AFL-CIO,

Respondent.

Thomas A. Hychalk, petitioner, appeared pro se

Steven P. Weissman, Esq. (Counsel, District One) for respondent

DECISION AND ORDER

On April l8, l985, Thomas A. Hychalk, an employee of the Department of Human Services, State of New Jersey, filed a Petition of Appeal with the Public Employment Relations Commission Appeal Board (hereinafter "Appeal Board") alleging that the amount of the representation fee in lieu of dues assessed by the Communications Workers of America (hereinafter "CWA"), the majority representative of the collective negotiations unit of State employees, including Mr. Hychalk's job title, was excessive and improper. An Answer was filed to the Petition by CWA on May 28, l985. On June l9, l985, the Appeal Board transferred the Petition to the Office of Administrative Law (hereinafter "OAL") for hearing in accordance with the New Jersey Administrative Procedure Act.

Prior to the scheduling of a prehearing conference before the Honorable Joseph Lavery, Administrative Law Judge, the parties prepared and executed a letter of settlement of this matter (copy attached to ALJ's decision). On September l8, l985, Judge Lavery issued his "Initial Decision-Settlement" (attached hereto and made a part hereof) finding that the parties had voluntarily agreed to the settlement as evidenced by the signatures on the letter of settlement and that the settlement fully disposed of all issues in controversy and was consistent with the law. His recommended decision ordered that the parties comply with the settlement and that the proceedings be concluded.

The Appeal Board has reviewed the Initital Decision of the Administrativew Law Judge and the record in this matter and believes that said Initital Decision should be affirmed for the reasons stated therein.

ORDER

The Initial Decision of the Administrative Law Judge in

OAL Docket No. PRB 3874-85 and AB-85-ll is hereby affirmed.

BY ORDER OF THE APPEAL BOARD

Robert J. Pacca

Chairman

Chairman Pacca and Board Member Dorf voted in favor of this decision.

DATED:	Trenton, New Jersey

October 16, 1985

ISSUED:	October 17, 1985