Union connection
Brotherhood and leadership compel Mansfield to drop
other representation and join Hackettstown Local 369
■ BY MITCHELL KRUGEL
The ceremony to swear in 14 Mansfield
police department members to the new
Hackettstown-Mansfield Local 369 on March
11 oozed with arm-in-arm-ness and congratulatory hugs that have become the
foundation of the PBA connection. There’s no
mistaking that this was a genuine feeling of
brotherhood.
When the Mansfield officers began exploring the idea of leaving their FOP lodge and
joining Local 369, the attraction to the State
PBA became almost intoxicating. And when
the Mansfield members finally decided to
make the move in February, the Hackettstown
contingent helped them feel that connection
almost instantly.
“Law enforcement has always been about
the brotherhood, the thin blue line, and the
move we are making feels like we are becoming part of a group of people in the brotherhood that are there for each other,” explained
Mansfield’s Joe Matthews, the vice-president
of the former local who served as point person
for the move along with President Michael
Citarelli. “The PBA feels like a giant support
system.”
Mansfield officers Andy Sillet and
Mike MacDonough attended the PBA
mini-convention March 2-6, when the
42
NEW JERSEY COPS
■
MARCH 2015
PBA Board of Delegate unanimously
approved the addition to Local 369. The connection they felt during that week seemed to
confirm how good their move will be.
“The way we communicate to members,
and the way we are so our involved in the pension and benefits process, really made an
impact,” noted Local 369 President Thomas
Smith. “They realized we are a more proactive group with regard to fighting for our
members.”
Hackettstown and Mansfield began talking
about the move nearly three years ago.
Getting together only seemed to make sense
for the neighboring towns that were backing
up each other more and more as the need
grew.
When the talks became serious, a PBA contingent that included President Pat Colligan,
Health Benefits and Legal Protection Plan
Coordinator Kevin Lyons, Special Projects
Coordinator John Hulse, Executive Board
Member James Crilly, Local 369 State Delegate
Jim Laoudis and Smith made a presentation
to the Mansfield members. The multitude of
benefits the PBA offers, especially the Legal
Protection Plan, made a profound impact at
the presentation.
But there was
something else that
seemed to win over
the Mansfield members.
“It was a pressurefree presentation,”
Matthews noted. “It
didn’t feel like they
were trying to sell us something. After that,
there was no question. From our youngest,
newest guy to our member with the most
time in, we all knew it was the right thing to
do.”
Smith sensed the Mansfield officers had
seen something special in the PBA. And that
sense was confirmed at the mini-convention.
“I think President Colligan was a huge selling point,” Smith continued. “Pat says all the
right things and does all the right things. Once
they saw what kind of leader he is, it wasn’t
hard to convince them to leave their union.”
So the new Local 369 could very well be the
next big thing. Smith and Matthews both confirmed that having new members in the Local
will incite passion and motivation that will
make for a force to be reckoned with. Smith
also pointed out that the Local fundraising
efforts will gain significant support from being
able to cover both towns.
And with labor issues, whether it’s a contract negotiation or standing up for a
member, that’s where Smith says the show of
force will make a big difference. Clearly, there
was no reason for Mansfield to not get on
board.
“With everything that’s going on with the
law enforcement profession in the state, you
read all the press releases and see the PBA
name all over everything,” Matthews concluded. “The PBA is the one pushing back
against the negative things that \