Newark city employees represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees filled city council chambers during the Feb. 17 meeting to voice concerns about the ongoing contract negotiations between their union and the city.
The city’s negotiations with the union representing about 100 city workers began about six months ago, and parties have yet to reach an agreement. Their contract expired on Dec. 31.
The council chambers were filled beyond capacity, and doors at the back were opened so that those among the estimated 40 people who couldn’t find seats could listen from the City Hall lobby.
The crowd included city workers, most wearing their neon-green vests and jackets, and some who left work and came to the council chambers with mud caked on their shoes, most adorned in bright green neon jackets. They came to support the union and show the council they deserve respect.
“AFSCME Local 2962 has a proud history with this city,” David Garrick, the AFSCME representative, said during the public comment period of the meeting. “During these negotiations, we have been offered proposals that make us question if the city’s administration has any respect or value for the people who keep this city running.”
Of the approximately 370 city employees in Newark, 81 are in the police department – some of whom are AFSCME members – and 84 are in the fire department, for a total of 165, or about 44% of the workforce.
The city and unions representing police and fire department employees reached agreements in late 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Among other things, those contracts included an increase in starting pay for new employees. The contract with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 127 called for officers to receive 11% raises – 4% in each of the first two years and 3% in the third. Firefighters in the International Association of Firefighters Local 109 negotiated 10% raises over three years – 4% in the first year and 3% in each of the following years.
In their last three-year contract, AFSCME employees received 16% raises – 4% each year over three years. Union members at the time also received a one-time, $2,350 ratification bonus.
The current negotiations continue in the wake of a defeat at the ballot box in November for a half-percent increase in the Newark income tax from 1.75% to 2.25%. The measure was rejected by 57.56% of those who voted in the Nov. 4 election. The same request again will be presented to voters in the May 5 primary. City officials have been working to reduce spending and cut costs to try to avoid a budget deficit.
Garrick noted during his comments to the council on Feb. 17 that negotiations now will be handled by a fact-finder from the State Employment Relations Board.
“This is run-of-the-mill for these types of negotiations,” he said. “This means that a state representative will come and get both sides to the story, and within 30 days they will bring a compromise to both parties.”
If the union doesn’t agree with the fact-finder, the union could issue an intent to strike.
“It would be a disaster for the city if we had any kind of lockout or strike,” Garrick said. “I don’t want to see a strike. My members from that moment forward (would) no longer have a paycheck, and they (would) have to worry about their families.”
Garrick said it feels as though the city doesn’t appreciate the work AFSCME members do for Newark.
Nick Curry, 49, said he has been working for the city’s street department for 31 years and serves as the secretary for AFSCME 2963.
“I am here to support the union,” he said. “They don’t want to give us a raise, but they give raises to police unions. They don’t care about us.”
Similarly, Rex Dumm, 55, a three-year employee, said, “We should have had a contract by January; they want to give everyone else big raises.”
Council member Doug Marmie, head of the finance committee, declined to comment following the meeting. He said “negotiations are in motion” and he is “not allowed to comment.” He and council member Spencer Barker, head of the public service committee, said negotiations between the union and the city are confidential, and Barker also declined to comment.
Recently elected council member Michelle Newman, who joined the council in January, declined to comment specifically about the negotiations, but she said that she appreciated the passion she saw in the room that night.
“I think it’s very important for people to be participatory, and I think that made quite a statement for so many of the union members to show up last night,” she said. “I mean, that definitely left an impact with me. But I have not been party to any of those negotiations, nor am I allowed to be. So I think at this point, as a council, we need to let the process play out as it’s supposed to, and then make informed decisions from there.”
Delaney Brown writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.