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Teamsters and county employees urge commissioners to address wages and retirement benefits
Summary
Union representatives and county employees told the board that starting pay and retirement packages do not keep pace with New Jersey costs; speakers cited an employee letter after 37 years of service, starting mechanic pay of $38,000, and called for a review of compensation and health-benefit cost sharing.
During the public-comment period at the Atlantic County Board of Commissioners meeting, multiple county employees and union representatives urged the board to address wages, retirement income and health-care costs.
Erica Rasman, principal officer, secretary and treasurer of Teamsters Local 331, said she spoke on behalf of members in ongoing contract negotiations and relayed a letter from a 37-year employee who said retirement income should allow a long-serving worker to remain in the community. Rasman said New Jersey’s high cost of living — including rents she described as roughly $1,500–$1,900 for a modest one-bedroom and rising grocery and gas costs — means current pay and retirement projections are inadequate.
Rob Sutton, a 36-year fleet-management employee, said applicants cite wages as a primary hiring barrier and reported a mechanic starting salary of $38,000. Sutton asked the board to identify offsets to improve pay and retention. Joanne Josea, a 26-year county employee, called for pay-equity reviews for clerical staff and noted rising health-care premium shares and pension deductions have eroded the total compensation package.
Therese Laskowski, who works at the county justice facility, described the strain on single parents and long-tenured employees and urged the board to consider wage increases and changes to health-care cost-sharing under Chapter 78 that she said reduce the value of raises.
Commissioners thanked speakers, acknowledged negotiations are ongoing and noted limits on public comments while negotiations are active. The board did not take immediate action at the meeting; the transcript records commissioners expressing understanding and promising the matter will be handled within the constraints of open negotiations.
