Welcome new PBA Locals
East Brunswick superior offi cers move
to the PBA for the total package
■ BY BRITTANY KRUGEL
When assessing why East Brunswick
superior officers decided to change
teams and opt for new union represen-
tation, the decision came down to one
significant conclusion:
“The PBA is a superior product,” East
Brunswick Local 145A president Robert
Zielinski expressed unequivocally.
Two years ago, when Zielinski and his
members were ready for a transition,
they knew that the PBA was the right
place to call home. The SOA Local was
once a part of the PBA in the 1980s, but
then decided to make the move from
the FOP to the PBA in search of more
formidable representation and services.
Local members recently recognized that
coming back to the PBA would offer the
strongest collective bargaining resourc-
es, as well as a stronger legal protection
plan, more detailed pension benefits
counseling and very substantive clinical
services support.
In addition to more formidable col-
lective bargaining representation, Zie-
linski and his 22 members understood
other numerous benefits the PBA pro-
vides.
“The PBA seems to be on the forefront
of getting the information out to mem-
bers and fighting for members down in
Trenton,” Zielinski stated.
He also noted how Local 145A is in-
spired by the way the PBA educates
members about the next steps when
they are ready to hang up their uni-
forms.
“They have a lot of resources avail-
able, especially coming into retire-
ment,” Zielinski added. “They have
pension and retirement seminars and
all of the information that is necessary
when it comes time to make that deci-
sion.”
On a personal note, what attracted
Zielinski and his members to the PBA
was the union’s response in 2016 in Dal-
las when five brothers and sisters were
killed in the line of duty.
“We saw how the PBA reached out to
the brothers and sisters in Dallas,” Ziel-
50
NEW JERSEY COPS
■ MAY 2018
Members of East Brunswick Local 145A, a group of superior offi cers who joined the State PBA in April.
inski recalled. “That was very impactful
for us from Jersey and showing their
support from across the nation was
amazing.”
At the April 9 State PBA meeting, Lo-
cal 145A established its charter after a
unanimous vote by its members.
“It was an easy transition once we got
the ball rolling, and the PBA was there
every step of the way,” Zielinski recount-
ed. “For us, it’s the total package.”
PBA offers experienced attention
for Manchester supervisors
■ BY BRITTANY KRUGEL
One year ago, when Anthony Iliadis,
the president of Manchester Local 246
and the members of his local decided
to create their own SOA Local, they had
the goal of giving more focused atten-
tion to the needs of superior officers.
“We wanted to create our own sub-
section for collective bargaining,” Ili-
adis explained.
The approximately 20 superior offi-
cers who formed Local 246A saw what
the PBA could do for them, and real-
ized moving from the FOP to the PBA
provided much stronger representa-
tion.
“I think the positive is that they have
the focus for our specific group and
they’re able to compare themselves
apples to apples, meaning sergeants to
sergeants,” Iliadis added.
Not only does forming a new Local
encourage the former leaders of 246 to
take on a larger role professionally, but
the change also allows both Local 246
and 246A to stay competitive with oth-
er departments. A union devoted to su-
perior officers offers a benefit that can
be critical in retaining members who
have been promoted and who know
what the PBA did for them when they
were working patrol or as detectives.
However, while these two locals may
be split, Iliadis reminds that it is im-
portant to note how both locals will re-
ceive equal support from the PBA.
“We still get the same amount of sup-
port from the state,” Iliadis confirmed.
The PBA will provide Local 246A with
experienced collective bargaining rep-
resentation, information on pension
planning and superior legislative rep-
resentation in Trenton because of its
long history working with superior of-
ficers associations. And Iliadis indicat-
ed how that made a big impact on the
decision to form Local 246A.