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Township employees press Egg Harbor Township Committee for retro pay, higher wages amid stalled Teamsters talks
Summary
Teamsters representatives and multiple township employees urged the committee to resolve stalled contract negotiations, criticized the removal of retroactive pay from offers for white-collar and public works staff, and said low pay is harming morale and retention.
Union representatives and township employees used the public-comment period to press the Egg Harbor Township Committee to return to the negotiating table and restore retroactive pay they say was previously on the table.
Abby Ortiz, speaking for Teamsters Local 331, told the committee negotiations remain "at a 4 way stop" and said the union is seeking a single, equitable contract for all members. "We are still negotiating in good faith," Ortiz said, and asked the committee and solicitor to continue talks and provide clarity.
Multiple township employees described low pay and lagging scales as a retention problem. Recreation staffer Cassie Hines said morale has fallen and cited rumored budget surpluses that have not translated into staff pay increases. Police service bureau clerk Bridal Mancolelli said current wages are not livable, noting her rate of $16.58 per hour and citing MIT living-wage figures. Jeremy Robinson and other public works employees echoed those concerns, saying some staff must take second jobs to make ends meet.
Teamsters local representatives urged the committee to honor earlier understandings about retroactive pay. Marcus King, veteran local official, said "we cannot ratify half of the contract" and asked that memoranda and proposed MOAs be consistent and presented to the union membership. Town leaders acknowledged the group’s concerns and said the solicitor would brief the committee on negotiations in closed session.
Why it matters: workers say stagnant pay and lack of retroactive adjustments threaten retention of trained staff and municipal service continuity. The committee added contract negotiations to the closed-session agenda for legal and personnel discussion; no formal action was announced in public session.
What happens next: the committee moved to discuss contract negotiations in closed session; the transcript records requests from union representatives for meetings and clarifications and an ongoing willingness to negotiate.
