Tell legislators: It’s time for fairness for ESP members! Support Just Cause Arbitration!
Our educational support professionals (ESPs) are invaluable to our public schools. Unfortunately, they are often not treated the same way as other school employees. For too long, the law has denied ESP members basic fairness in their employment, including critical decisions such as discipline and dismissal. NJEA is working to restore fairness by pushing legislation to require just cause arbitration for critical employment decisions.
BILL SUMMARY:
S-3089/A-3664 (Greenstein/Caputo, Jasey, Dancer, Reynolds-Jackson, Giblin, Carter)
Status: Proposed for Introduction/Assembly Labor Committee
S-3089/A-3664 would extend to non-teaching employees of local, county or regional school districts, boards or commissions the right to submit to binding arbitration any dispute regarding whether there is just cause for a disciplinary action.
Disciplinary actions subject to arbitration would include, but not be limited to, reprimands, the withholding of a salary increment, termination, non-renewal, an expiration or lapse of an employment contract or term, or the lack of continuation of employment, irrespective of the reason for the employer’s action or failure to act, and irrespective of any contractual or negotiated provision of any contractual or negotiated provision or lack thereof. The bill places the burden of proof on the employer.
