Preamble				2
Article	1	-	Duration	3
Article	2	-	Recognition	3
Article	3	-	Agency Shop and Dues Check Off	4
Article	4	-	Creation of new Job Titles	5
Article	5	-	Wages and Salaries	5
Article	6	-	Probationary Period	8
Article	7	-	Hours and Compensatory Time	8
Article	8	-	Flex Time	9
Article	9	-	Grievance Procedure	10
Article	10	-	Discipline	12
Article	11	-	Longevity	13
Article	12	-	License Incentives	13
Article	13	-	Heath Benefits	16
Article	14	-	Personal Leave of Absence	18
Article	15	-	Family and Medical Leave	19
Article	16	-	Maternity/Paternity Leave	19
Article	17	-	Leave for Jury Duty/Subpoenas	20
Article	18	-	Military Duty Leave	21
Article	19	-	Bereavement Leave	21
Article	20	-	Unscheduled Absences	22
Article	21	-	Scheduled Absences	22
Article	22	-	Work Incurred Injury	22
Article	23	-	Vacation	24
Article	24	-	Sick Leave	27
Article	25	-	Holidays	30
Article	26	-	Existing Benefits	31
Article	27	-	Conditions of Employment Discrimination & Coercion	33
Article	28	-	Management Rights	34
Article	29	-	No Strike	35
Article	30	-	Job Stewards	35
Article	31	-	Meeting with the Union	36
Article	32	-	Personnel Files	37
Article	33	-	Payroll	38
Article	34	-	Inclement Weather Policy	38
Article	35	-	Layoffs	38
Article	36	-	Retirement Health Benefits	39
Article	37	-	Preservation of Standards	41
Article	38	-	Existing Law	41
Article	39	-	Separability and Savings	42
Article	40	-	Labor Conventions	42
Article	41	-	Negotiating Sessions	42
Article	42	-	Bulletin Boards	43
Article	43	-	Labor/Management & Safety Committee	43
Article	44	-	Notice	43
Article	45	-	General Provisions	44
			Definitions	45

ARTICLE 2
RECOGNITION

Solid & Special Waste Program Administrator
Assistant Chief of Finance and Accounts
Assistant Construction Coordinator
Coordinator of Contractual Accounts/Operations
Computer & Financial System Integrator
Managerial Assistant IPP
Manager Permits & Regulatory Affairs
Principal Engineer
Recycling Program Manager/Technical Assistance
SCADA Engineer
Senior Engineering Inspector
Solid Waste Education & Technical Advisor
Water Pollution Education Program & Outreach Coordinator
Municipal Cooperative Program Compliance Coordinator

not join the Union within thirty (30) days thereafter, any new employee who does not join within thirty (30) days of initial employment within the unit or any employee who does not join within ten (10) days of re-entry into employment with the unit shall, as a condition of employment, pay a representation fee to the Union by automatic payroll deduction. The representation fee shall be in an amount equal to eighty-five (85%) percent of the regular Union membership dues, fees and assessments as certified to the Authority by the Union. The Union may revise its certification of the amount of the representation fee at any time to reflect changes in the regular Union membership dues, fees and assessments. The Union's entitlement to the representation fee shall continue beyond the termination date of this agreement so long as the Union remains the majority representative of the employees in the unit, provided that no modification is made in this provision by a successor agreement between the Union and the Authority.

1. Notify the Union of these new or amended titles;
2. Give a copy of any job specification for the new or amended title to the Union;
3. Advise the Union of the proposed hours of work, and other terms and conditions of employment established for the title.

Wages shall be in accordance with the following salary guide schedule for Employees hired before July 1, 2016:

CWA 2016 GRADE AND STEP CHART

GradeStep 1Step 2Step 3Step 4Step 5Step 6Step 7Step 8

III $ 85,514 $ 88,514 $ 91,516 $ 95,116 $ 99,016 $104,267 $109,519 $ 117,506

IIB $ 79,514 $ 83,264 $ 85,511 $ 90,014 $ 95,266 $ 99,767 $105,019 $ 111,983

IIA $ 63,012 $ 66,011 $ 69,010 $ 72,761 $ 75,763 $ 79,514 $ 83,264 $ 88,205

IB $ 63,012 $ 66,011 $ 69,010 $ 72,761 $ 75,763 $ 79,514 $ 83,264 $ 88,205

IA $ 42,006 $ 46,507 $ 52,508 $ 59,259 $ 65,260 $ 71,261 $ 78,014 $ 85,137

1. The purpose of this procedure is to provide an equitable method of answering questions or resolving problems arising from the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
2. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as limiting the right of any member of the bargaining unit to discuss any matter informally with an appropriate superior in order to resolve any issue.

The term "grievance" as used herein means any controversy arising over the interpretation, application or violation of any provision of this agreement and may be raised by an individual or by the Union for an individual or group of individuals. This grievance procedure shall cover disciplinary matters where the penalty imposed is any suspension of five (5) or fewer days or any equivalent fine or any lesser penalty. Unclassified employees with five (5) or more years of service are entitled to use this procedure for disciplinary matter including suspensions of one day or more.

The following constitutes the sole and exclusive method of resolving grievances between the parties covered by this Agreement, and shall be followed in its entirety unless any step is waived by mutual consent:

1. Upon completion of five (5) years of employment with the Authority, one and one-half (1.5%) percent of their regular rate of pay
2. Upon completion of ten (10) years of employment two and one half (2.5%) percent of the regular rate of pay.
3. Upon completion of fifteen (15) years of employment, four (4%) percent of the regular rate of pay.
4. Upon completion of twenty (20) years of employment, five and a half (5.5%) percent of the regular rate of pay.
5. Upon completion of twenty-five (25) years of employment, seven (7%) percent of the regular rate of pay.

If, upon prior approval of the Executive Director, it is deemed a benefit to the BCUA, and is related to Employee’s job title and duties, an annual incentive bonus shall be paid for all employees that obtain or possess NJDEP waste water operations License(s) in accordance with the following:

Employee reimbursement for all annual license registration fees shall also be provided as relates to those licensed referenced in the above program.

B. The Authority shall provide a dental benefits insurance program. The entire premium shall be paid by the Bergen County Utilities Authority, it being understood and agreed that no employee shall be obliged to participate in the said program. Employees are offered a dental plan that includes 100% coverage for preventive and diagnostic dentistry, 80% remaining basic services; 70% prosthodontia; 70% orthodontic, using the usual and customary schedules. This plan may include a deductible figure if required by the eventual insurer not to exceed $50.00 per person. The maximum annual benefit as applicable to this section is $2,500.00 per year, except as relates to the orthodontic benefit. For those employees hired before July 1, 2016, the lifetime maximum orthodontic benefit is $2,500.00. For employees hired on or after July 1, 2016, the lifetime maximum orthodontic benefit is $2,000.00. For those employees or eligible dependents who started orthodontic treatment services prior to January 1, 2017 and who have not completed such treatment, the benefit levels under the prior contract control until the services are completed or until January 1, 2018, whichever occurs first.
For employees hired before July 1, 2016, the Authority will provide a prescription drug plan for all employees covered by the contract and their families. This plan will provide a prescription drug plan with a co-pay by the employee in accordance with the following schedule for the term of this Agreement:







Drug Category	CO-PAYMENT PARTICIPATING RETAIL pHARMACIES (30 dAY sUPPLY)	co-payment home delivery medco by mail (up to 90 day supply)
Generic	$ 5.00	$ 5.00
Preferred Name Brand (Formulary)	$ 15.00	$ 15.00
Non-preferred Name Brand (Non-Formulary)	$ 15.00	$ 15.00

1. One working day of vacation for each month of service during the first calendar year of employment.
2. Fifteen (15) working days vacation in each succeeding calendar year prior to the completion of five (5) years (sixty (60) months) continuous service.
3. Twenty (20) working days vacation in each calendar year of service starting with the beginning of the calendar year in which five (5) years (sixty (60) months) service are completed.
4. Twenty-five (25) working days vacation in each calendar year of service starting with the beginning of the calendar year in which twenty (20) years (240 months) service are completed.
5. For those employees hired prior to January 1, 2016, thirty (30) working days vacation in each calendar year of service starting with the beginning of the calendar year in which twenty-five years (300 months) service are completed.
For those employees hired prior to January 1, 2016. thirty-one (31) working days vacation in each calendar year of service starting with the beginning of the calendar year in which thirty (30) years (360 months) service are completed.
7. During the first calendar year of service, complete vacation allowance for the calendar year is available for use after six (6) months of service. In the second and succeeding calendar years of service, vacation allowances are available for use at the beginning of the calendar year.

2. Fifteen (15) days per year — one and one-quarter workdays per full calendar month of employment.
3. Twenty (20) per year — one and two-thirds working days per full calendar month of employment.
Twenty-five (25) per year - two and one-tenth working days per full calendar month of employment.
Thirty (30) per year - two and one-half days per full calendar month of employment.

Working Days — One day equal to the number of hours regularly worked by an employee. All employees do not work an eight (8) hour day.

Care of a reasonable period of time, of a seriously ill member of the employee's immediate family: spouse, child, legal ward, grandchild, foster child, father, mother, legal guardian, grandfather, grandmother, brother, sister, father-in-law, mother-in-law and other relatives resident in the employee's household.

In the first calendar month of employment, one sick day if employment begins by the eighth day of the calendar month; and one-half sick day if employment begins between the 9^th and 23^rd day of the calendar month.
In the first year of service, one sick day for each calendar month of employment following the first calendar month of service.
In each succeeding calendar year of service fifteen (15) sick days.
Unused sick days shall accumulate from year to year without limit. Sick days do not accrue during a leave of absence without pay or during the period of an employee's suspension. Employees who exhaust all paid sick days in any one year shall not be credited with additional sick days until the beginning of the next calendar year. Accrued sick leave is available for employee use at the beginning of the calendar year, however employees are responsible for leave but not earned in the basis of one and one quarter days per month, except in the first calendar year of employment as set forth in D1 above.

Employees taking no sick days during any individual contract year of this Agreement (all terminating on December 31 of the contract year), will receive $1,000.00 in January of following year.

New Year's Day		Memorial Day
Martin Luther King		Independence Day
Labor Day		Columbus Day
President's Day		Election Day
Good Friday		Thanksgiving Day
Veterans Day		Day after Thanksgiving
Christmas Day

For all employees hired before July 1, 2016, one (1) additional personal day will be given.

A. The Authority pays the full cost for short and long-term sickness benefit plans, which pay a 70% of the pre-disability earnings to a maximum of $572.00 per week with a maximum of ten weeks for Short Term Disability. The employee must be out for thirty calendar days before being eligible due to sickness or accident.

B. Long Term Disability pays 60% of the pre-disability earnings, up to a maximum of $3,000 per month. No monthly benefit may be paid, or the monthly benefit may be reduced in accordance with the provisions below.

C. The maximum benefit duration shall be the greater of:

1. The benefit duration limit as shown in the table below; or

2. Your normal retirement age as defined by the Social Security Amendments of 1983.

Age When Disability Begins	Benefit Duration
Less Than 60	To Age 65
61	48 Months
62	42 Months
63	36 Months
64	30 Months
65	24 Months
66	21 Months
67	18 Months
68	15 Months
69 and Over	12 Months

Safety Glasses

All employees will be given a free safety glasses examination as needed upon approval and be given up to a $150.00 voucher for prescription safety glasses at an authorized vendor. Vouchers will enable employees to purchase prescription safety glasses at authorized vendors to be determined in the sole discretion of management.

Vision Care Plan

See Article 13D.

Payroll Deductions

Payroll deductions are authorized by the employer for employees who desire to purchase U.S. Savings Bonds.

NON-DISCRIMINATION
There shall be no discrimination against any employee because of race, creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, religion, union status, age, sex (including pregnancy), marital status, domestic partnership status, civil union status, affectional or sexual orientation status, atypical hereditary, cellular or blood trait, genetic information, liability for military service, mental or physical disability, perceived disability and AIDS and HIV status.
The Authority and the Union believe that each employee is entitled to respectful treatment by every other employee, no matter his/her rank or station. Abusive language or actions among employees or between supervisory personnel and hourly employees will not be tolerated.

The investigation and presentation of grievances in accordance with the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement.
Meeting and conferring with employee's supervisors in pre-grievance meetings.
Attend health and safety meetings, labor management meetings, and other authorized meetings.
Attend to Union business with prior approval of the shop steward's supervisor. Such approval will not be unreasonably denied.
Transmit communications authorized by the Local Union and its officers, to the Authority or its representatives, either written or oral.
Employees engaged in Union activities who have been released for the day, shall be able to take such day as an unpaid day off.

Members of the Union may confer with shop stewards, local Union officers and/or designated Staff Representatives of the Union relative to grievances and other contract-related matters during working hours for a reasonable amount of time, providing permission has been granted by the respective supervisor and that the needs of the Authority are not unduly hindered. Permission shall not be unreasonably withheld, nor shall this provision be abused. Union members and representatives shall provide reasonable advance notice and obtain approval from management before leaving their assigned work duties to conduct union business. Supervisors may not inquire as to the specific nature of the discussion. Union representatives shall not be paid for attending negotiations, grievances or arbitration hearings that exceed their regular working hours.

B. Upon advance notice and at reasonable times, any member of the Union may review his/her personnel file through appointment with the chief of personnel or his designee.

C. Whenever a written complaint concerning an employee or his/her actions is to be placed in his/her personnel file, an employee shall be permitted to place a rebuttal in his/her file.

D. Personnel files will be carefully maintained and safeguarded permanently, and nothing placed in any file shall be removed except as provided for in other Articles of this Agreement. Removal of any material from a personnel file by any member of the Union shall subject that member to appropriate disciplinary action.

Affected employees shall be given a generalized notice of layoff at least forty-five (45) calendar days, prior to the reduction in force.

a. After twenty-five (25) years of service credit in a State or locally administered retirement system; or
b. On an accidental disability pension; or
c. On ordinary disability.

a. After twenty-five (25) years of service credit in a State or locally administered retirement system; or
b. On an accidental disability pension; or
c. On ordinary disability after ten (10) years of service at the Authority

The parties may discuss any contract issue during the last two (2) years of this contract if both parties agree to do so. The refusal of either party to discuss a contract issue prior to the expiration of this contract shall not be grievable or reviewable by any court or agency.

An employee, serving in a title, who enjoys the benefit of permanent Civil Service status. An employee may be permanent in one title and serve provisionally in another.
Provisional Employee

An employee, serving in a title, who does not enjoy the benefit of permanent civil service status. An employee may hold permanence in one title and serve provisionally in another title.
Temporary Work Assignment
An out of title work assignment in excess of ten working days.
Probationary Employees
An employee serving in a working test period in a permanent or provisional title as defined by the Civil Service Commission.
Sick Leave
Paid absence due to inability to work because of illness or injury of the employee or a member of the immediate family who is seriously ill and requires the attendance of the employee, and as further defined in New Jersey Statutes.
Inclement Weather
Includes weather conditions such as snow/sleet/ice storms and severe rains. Severe rains include northeasters. Hurricanes and other conditions that cause widespread flooding and/or power outages.






















IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have set their hands and seals, or caused this Agreement to be signed by their duly authorized officers or representatives on the day and year first set forth above.

ATTEST BERGEN COUNTY UTILITIES AUTHORITY

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ATTEST BERGEN COUNTY UTILITIES AUTHORITY

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ATTEST COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA, LOCAL 1040

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ATTEST COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA, LOCAL 1040

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