By Bill Cleary
TIP-The contract talks between the City of Gloucester City and the PBA Local 40 union have broken down. As a result the negotiations are now in front of an arbitrator. Cost for both sides for arbitration, $20,000 each. According to my sources the City wanted the 27 member union to accept a package that gave them a zero percent raises plus pickup some of the cost of their health benefits.
Mayor Bill James said, \”The country is in the middle of a recession. We have asked all bargaining units to work with us this year so no one will lose their job. Businesses in the private sector are laying people off. Some are going out of business altogether. Homeowners are facing foreclosures. Unemployment is at an all time high. The City has no money available for raises.\”
The police union, according to my sources, says if that is the case why did mayor and council recently hired a new employee for the 32 man fire department.
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