2018 NJ STATE PBA
Collective Bargaining Seminar
The Bloomfield Local
sharing network The Montclair Local
veteran first-timer
The last time Tim Kealy of Bloomfield Local 32 attended the
Collective Bargaining Seminar, he was focused on finding out
how to negotiate the best contract for members. At the time, Lo-
cal 32 was in the middle of a long and meticulous negotiation,
and Kealy was part of the contract committee.
After using the information learned to help settle Local 32’s
contract in 2017, Kealy felt it was still important to attend the
seminar, this time as the Local’s newly appointed president. He
was joined by Local 32 Vice President Bob Kish. They agreed
that this time, it was about bringing crucial information back to
the membership.
“We’re not bargaining anything for another four years,” Kealy
explained. “But there’s so much other important information
like officers’ rights, legal coverage and financial analysis.”
Kealy and Kish agree that the USB drive loaded with each ses-
sion’s presentation becomes their greatest resource. But when it
comes to sharing the information with Local 32 members, they
realized that it’s their job to condense the three-day symposium
into a short and simple message.
“You know how cops are,” Kish noted. “It’s got to be ab-
breviated and keep everyone’s attention. Just get to the nitty-
gritty.” d When taking the role of State Delegate, members assume the
responsibility of staying informed for the benefit of their Locals.
But for other officers like John Bossolt, a member of Montclair
Local 53, taking the initiative to have a deeper understanding
of the factors affecting compensation and job performance is a
personal choice.
Bossolt has made that personal commitment many times by
attending PBA Mini Conventions. But this year, Bossolt decided
to take a seat at the Collective Bargaining Seminar for the first
time.
“I’m just trying to get involved and gain more knowledge,”
Bossolt stated. “I think more people need to come down for
these functions. Not just the delegate, but everyone in the Lo-
cal.”
The PBA veteran of 20 years jotted down notes on topics like
internal affairs reviews, disciplinary actions and officers’ rights,
showing that it’s never too late to refresh and learn more about
the protections for law enforcement officers.
“It’s been giving me a better understanding of the disciplinary
process as far as the rights of the officers,” he explained. “A lot of
officers don’t know their rights. It’s so important to know those
rights to protect yourself, God forbid you’re involved in a critical
incident.” d
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