On Oct. 7, clerical workers at the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office in Cape May County, N.J., joined UFCW Local 152.
The clerical workers at the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office reached out to UFCW Local 152 organizers to learn more about the process of organizing their workplace and see if it could help make positive change. Most of these workers have decades of experience and sought fair treatment and a voice in the changes occurring at their workplace.
In New Jersey, unionizing public workers is more straightforward than unionizing a private company. The clerical workers at the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office signed authorization cards, which showed the Public Employment Relations Commission, the government body overseeing unions in the public sector, that there was sufficient interest in organizing among the employees. These workers then joined our union via “card check,” which removes the extended period before a secret ballot election when companies often use intimidation and scare tactics to prevent the workers from unionizing and allows workers to move directly into negotiating a contract.
These workers are looking forward to negotiating their first contract, which will focus on improving working conditions and protecting and enhancing wages and benefits.