Photo by Jordan Coll / SOC Images.
“Overworked and under-paid!” were the chants echoed among the crowd of workers who stood in front of the Hudson County Plaza office, pleading that the county honor “the pay we [AFSCME Local 2306] were promised.” Meanwhile, Hudson County officials are returning to the bargaining table next week to continue negotiations with the union.
The contested agreement brought up by the union workers pertains to two distinct issues. The first is a discussed one-time payment of $2,500 for those who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic referred to as a retention bonus or pay that incentivizes workers to stay rather than leaving.
The other issue stems from contract negotiations related to wages under an agreement between the Local 2306 union workers and the county—the organization represents over 400 employees. The union, which is a local branch of the national union AFSCME, claims that they have undergone poor working conditions, unsafe environments and wages below living standard. The contract expired on June 30 of last year.
Workers affiliated with the AFSCME Local 2306 gathered outside the county’s parking lot early Wednesday morning and made their way to the front of the Hudson County Plaza building located on 257 Cornelison Ave.
“Regarding retention bonuses, on March 21, 2020, at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, Governor Phil Murphy announced via Executive Order No. 107, a stay-at-home order beginning on March 21, 2020 and ending on June 29, 2020. During the stay-at-home period, some workers who are members of AFSCME Local 2306, AFSCME Local 1697 and District 1199J, physically reported to work,” according to a statement put out by Craig Guy, the Hudson County Executive the same day the protests occurred outside the county building.
“During retention bonus discussions, a typographical error was made in the agreement documents noting that the State’s stay-at-home order began on March 1, 2020. This was clearly an unintended mistake, as Gov. Murphy’s Executive Order was effective on March 21, 2020. District 1199J addressed the error and amended the agreement in good faith.”
A meeting on March 27 between union workers and members of the commissioner’s office spotlighted the technical issues concerning the time range as to when workers would receive payment for work done during the pandemic.
The union expressed another reality in their chants and outcry, as honks of cars in the background supported their efforts and demonstrations.
Workers who came out to protest are part of the Hudson County Office of Reintegration, a branch of the Department of Housing and Community Reintegration. What they do is provide services aimed at supporting individuals with mental health or substance abuse disorders, or face homelessness, among other life saving resources.
“The official response ‘Because they made a mistake’ is not only unacceptable but a blatant disregard for the sacrifices made by essential workers,” said Yohaira Garcia, one of the workers leading the protest. “During the pandemic, we showed up everyday, risking our health and safety of our families.”
Slice of Culture obtained a copy of the bargaining agreement between the county and the union which stated that in order to be eligible for the Retention Bonus or a lump sum payment offered by the employer, they had to have worked from March 1 through June 30,2020.
The contract was signed off by two members of Local 2306 and the county administrator.
Many workers who spoke to Slice of Culture claimed they worked throughout those given days and still, five years later, they are waiting for the agreement to follow through with their demands.
“This week’s protest by members of AFSCME Local 2306 was not organized by Local 2306’s leadership. The protest was due to years of frustration with how Hudson County has failed to use its available money to fairly compensate workers, including those who were on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the County’s unilateral decision to renege on an agreement that they drafted, presented, reviewed and signed off on,” a statement put out by the AFSCME in light of the demonstrations.
Workers cited issues related to:
- fair compensation
- wages that would keep up with the demand in the housing market
- sound working conditions
“The cost of living per month is increasing, while the benefits are dwindling,” said Thania Reyes, a bilingual clerk who focuses on residents in need of family services and has been working with the county for 17 years.
A 2024 survey conducted among 3,000 CWA members working in county social service agencies throughout New Jersey analyzed how staffing levels and workloads impact the distribution of benefits. Under state assistance programs such as Work First New Jersey, currently Hudson County has a figure of (5,504) participants—which is the highest of the 21 counties in New Jersey—as of last year followed by Essex County (4,272), and Camden County (4,065), according to a report by the New Jersey Policy Perspective, a nonpartisan think tank.
Slice of Culture reviewed data by the Division of Family Development (DFD), a state agency overlooking four programs: NJ Child Care Assistance Program, Child Support Program, Food Assistance (SNAP), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
New Jersey entered a state of emergency back in 2020 at the offset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Murphy declared that all public and private schools across the state, including preschools and colleges, would shut down on March 16.
The school closures, combined with a statewide voluntary curfew and the mandatory shutdown of casinos, bars, gyms, and restaurants, including the county’s office which closed down from March 21 through June 29, the county confirmed to Slice of Culture.
“We need equal employment, respect and change,” read one protestor sign. Another banner held up by a union worker who wished not to be named due to fear of retaliation, stated “Mice, bed bugs, are unacceptable in the workplace!”
Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea, who is also running for mayor of Jersey City this year, shared a few words at the demonstration:
“The agreement is pretty clear, the sidebar agreement signed said anyone who worked from March 1 to June 30 and still works for the union was entitled to this compensation. You have to have decent working conditions in order to be able to work.”
He added that two meetings are set to take place next week addressing the brunt of grievances brought by workers. One on Tuesday, which is intended to discuss the current working environment currently faced by workers who told Slice of Culture they faced conditions such as rats in the workplace and rat droppings. The other meeting on Thursday is meant to bring out a list of continued complaints stated by workers.
“We are not at the living standards for Jersey City in Hudson County at all,” said Shanika Smith, an assistant health services specialist who has been working with the county for 13 years, helping individuals process their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). “We are out here fighting for better work conditions, and it’s time for them to respond!”
“The frustration has reached a boiling point. After five years of broken promises and wage stagnation, Hudson County workers are taking action,” read a press release provided to Slice of Culture by the union workers.
In an April 4 press release sent out by AFSCME New Jersey, they responded to the Hudson County Executive’s April 2 statement:
“AFSCME has been trying to negotiate in good faith with the County for a considerable period of time; in fact, on Wednesday afternoon the Officers and Executive Board members of Local 2306 were actively engaged in contract negotiations with the County.
However, in order to negotiate in good faith there must be trust on both sides. The County’s decision to renege on an agreement they drafted, presented, reviewed, and signed has broken trust. In order to restore that trust, the County needs to honor the original agreement they signed.
AFSCME will continue to fight on behalf of its members for what is right and what is fair.”
“I will concur with them [the union workers] with rodents roaming around our office,” said Junior Maldonando, the Hudson County Clerk, who oversees and leads the Elections Division, the Passport Division, and the Public Records/Archives Division. “Hopefully they can get some ears and sit down with some people, to come up with a solution.”
Amid growing concerns over economic inequality, union workers affirmed their outcry for fairer wages and improved working conditions, intensifying calls for labor reforms in the county.
“What happened to the money we were promised?” asked Tania Asanza, who currently works under human services at the county level for nearly 20 years. “We ask the county to act now, we have been waiting for five years, it’s time to deliver on what was promised to us!”
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