One Fine Day
NJ State PBA Day at the State House culminates
with momentous triumph
n BY MITCHELL KRUGEL
n PHOTOS BY JIM CONNOLLY AND AMBER RAMUNDO
Hugs, handshakes, high fives and a rousing ovation from some
50 members greeted NJ State PBA President Pat Colligan and Ex-
ecutive Vice President Marc Kovar as they emerged from the Gen-
eral Assembly chamber at the State House in Trenton late in the
afternoon of March 26. The celebration could have been worthy
of one of Colligan’s coveted cigars or even a Gatorade shower that
often befalls a coach from his team that just won the champion-
ship.
“It’s a big win,” the PBA president confirmed shortly after the
cheering died down.
The cause célèbre, of course, came from the bi ll to make PFRS
independent of state control passing the General Assembly with
overwhelming support. That was an hour after the bill passed in
the State Senate with even more overwhelming approval.
But the celebration set off by the bill coming through the leg-
islature again with what was purported to be a real chance to be
signed into law also could have marked an appropriate climax to
the third annual NJ State PBA Day at the State Legislature. Hun-
dreds of members once again marched on Trenton to add a face
to the voice of political action and influence that is not just mak-
ing legislators stand up and take notice of the PBA but do more to
win their support and further the union’s interests.
PBA Day 2018 advanced the cause by members requesting –
and receiving – meetings with Assembly Reps and Senators who
were all in Trenton because both houses scheduled voting ses-
sions. The turnout let elected officials see that PBA members are
neighbors and friends who are not always against them, that they
support legislators when they make good decisions and that they
want to work together to resolve issues.
And it was a visible and visceral display that the Locals that sent
busloads to work the halls and sit in committee meetings display-
ing their PBA shields en masse want to continue so they become
more educated about how the process works in Trenton, hold leg-
islators accountable and make sure their votes – and every other
one they are able to procure – count.
All of which contributed to the Assembly and Senate passing
the pension bill by counts of 67-2 (with three not voting and sev-
en abstaining) and 34-2 (with four not voting), respectively. But
PBA Day 2018 made an even grander statement about the voice,
the presence, the seat at the table and what the union can accom-
plish when it shows out like this.
“When we first came a few years ago, all the legislators wanted
to know why we were here, what we were doing here,” explained
Bradley Beach Local 50 State Delegate Mike Tardio, who brought
most of his executive board and then some to Trenton. “Now, they
know why we are here.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 34
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