other executive board members attended line-ups for every unit in the
jail to see every member and keep all officers informed of the effort to
thwart the regionalization.
“At one point, the odds were so against us that I decided to reach
out to every person I had formed a relationship with during my 12
years as Delegate,” Burkert revealed. ‘I was able to get some high-ranking political figures to listen to our grief, and then we went to the
troops because there were a lot of rumors flying and we wanted to
make sure they had the truth that we were doing everything we can as
a union. That way, whatever the outcome, they would always respect
what we were doing.”
When Burkert took over as State Delegate, he recalled respect and
communication being the Local’s two biggest gaps. He recruited his
longtime friend Krech to be his running mate, and they set about
building the bridges to get all Local members on the same page.
“We’re PBA strong because we have learned from our
predecessors,” Krech explained. “We always knew that if the lines of
communication had broken down, it would have hurt everyone.
Communication and relationships – that’s what has kept us going.”
Oppmann observed that Burkert setting the tone to speak from the
heart made a huge impact on getting the message to county government about how closing the jail would not only cost more money, but
potentially put residents at greater risk. The final piece to the plan was
bringing in Colligan and Executive Vice-President Marc Kovar to make
a final impassioned statement about what would happen if
freeholders tried to see through their plan.
In early spring of 2015, the regionalization coup was finally put
down. Shortly thereafter, Burkert decided it was time to hang up his
badge, due to shoulders and hips so painful only outdone by a will that
wouldn’t even entertain disability retirement.
“I didn’t want to retire with that threat still active,” Burkert confided.
“It was very emotional. It was a lot of work to put forth the strategic
plan. The truth of the matter is that I always wanted to take the
approach that I wasn’t going to be the guy ranting and raving. Until we
were able to sit and speak to anyone who mattered and get them to
listen to the facts, we weren’t going to beat this thing. When you have
the facts, you have to do whatever it takes to get people on your side.”
President Colligan called the Local 199 strategic plan a model for
how to deal with regionalization threats.
“When they were threatening to turn the jail into a Holiday Inn
Express, they engaged their membership and did everything right,” he
continued. “That was a real win.”
Victory has spawned enthusiasm. At the PBA Election Day Phone
Bank in Woodbridge Local 199 sent a team of members to make calls;
not just E-Board members but the grass roots officers who have
plugged into the call to perpetuate Local 199’s stature and impact.
“Our members have been called upon and they are taking action,”
Krech confirmed. “We feel very strongly that when you join the PBA,
you take an oath. And once you take that oath, you need to live up to
it.”
At Union County Corrections Local 199, they call that “PBA Strong.”
www.njcopsmagazine.com
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