CWA Local 1033
Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO
State Health Benefits Plan Year 2021 Open Enrollment
Annual Health Benefits Plan Open Enrollment will be different this year as it has adjusted to COVID-19 times.
It will be all virtual with some differences in how to enroll in a different plan or add a dependent between state and local government workers. The open enrollment will start on October 1 (Thursday) and end October 31 and plan changes will be effective on 1/1/21.
Here’s a rundown:
State Workers
State workers will able to enroll in a different plan or add a dependent through a new on-line application called Benefitsolver. There will be no paper forms to complete and process and state workers will not need to go through their Human Resource offices to make changes.
The Benefitsolver Open Enrollment Flyer explains how members can login and start their enrollment. The MyChoice Mobile App flyer explains how members can access health plan information whenever they need it.
We recommend that state workers stay with CWA Unity/NJ Direct (same plan different name) or the Omnia tiered network plan. The Horizon HMO is both more expensive and has a restricted network.
Omnia is significantly less expensive (25%) than CWA Unity/NJ Direct, has the same coverage of benefits, and provides a cash incentive to join but Omnia can entail significant out-of-pocket expenses if you go to a tier two provider. There is no out-of-network coverage for Omnia. Omnia can be an attractive option if the tier one providers meet your needs. Members considering Omnia should review the tier one providers.
Medicare Retirees
The Benefitsolver app will be rolled out for Medicare retirees on March 1, 2021.
If you have questions regarding your benefits, please see your employer or call the NJDPB Office of Client Services at 609-292-7524. If you have trouble accessing the Benefitsolver website, please see your human resources representative.
Direct Primary Care
Membership to Direct Primary Care Doctor’s Office Included in N.J. SHBP/SEHBP Benefits at no additional cost
The New Jersey State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) and School Employees’ Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) offer employees and their covered dependents the opportunity to join a Direct Primary Care doctor’s office at no additional cost. This is available as part of the Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield plans and does not require any changes to your health insurance. Simply choose a Direct Primary Care doctor from Paladina Health or R-Health and get unlimited access to personalized care with no copays, when and where it’s convenient for you. Direct Primary Care doctors provide a full range of services including preventative, urgent, and sick care, health and wellness coaching, chronic disease management, and care coordination.
The Direct Primary Care program is available to employees and dependents covered under the following SHBP/SEHBP Plans:
- Horizon NJ Direct plans
- Horizon SHBP OMNIA plans
- Horizon CWA Unity plans
- Non-Medicare retirees
General Membership Meeting – October 14, 2020
Register now for the CWA Local 1033 General Membership Meeting – October 14, 2020 held virtually via Zoom. Meeting starts at 5:30 PM.
All Members must pre-register to participate in this meeting. Registration deadline is 2:00 PM on October 14, 2020. Once your membership status has been manually verified, you will receive a confirmation e-mail with instructions on how to join the meeting. Please do not delay, members who register after the deadline may not be admitted.
This meeting is for users with a Zoom account. New to Zoom? Sign up free.
Agenda will include:
Secretary’s Report: Review and Approval of the January 2020 General Membership Meeting Minutes;
Treasurer’s Report: Review and Approval of the Financial Reports; Review and Approval of the Local’s FY2021 Budget;
Presidents Report: Overview of Events; Swearing in new Shop Stewards
Committee Reports
CWA Local 1033 General Membership Meeting
Date:
Oct. 14, 2020
Time:
5:00 PM
CWA Local 1033 Notice of Election of Officers
Please contact CWA Local 1033 to update your Home Address & Email Address
The 2020 Election of Officers will be conducted by the Elections Committee pursuant to the CWA Constitution – Article XV, Local 1033 By-Laws Article 14, and the CWA Local 1033 Election Procedures. Members who have signed cards but are currently not working, who have paid dues a minimum of 3 months in the 12 months preceding any announced election, and who have not severed their connection with their employer, (except by means of retirement) shall be eligible to vote in said election, pursuant to CWA Local 1033 By-Laws, Section 3 E. – General Provisions, pg.14.
Offices include President, Executive Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Bargaining Unit Vice President’s for the Administrative/Clerical, Professional, Primary and Higher Level Supervisory Units, and Area Representatives for Area 1– Treasury, Area 2 – Law & Public Safety and Public Defender, Area 3 – Education, Thomas Edison State College Library, Talking Book and Braille, and Department of Children & Families Office of Education and the Regional Day School, Area 4 – Department of State, Department of Human Services Division of Aging, and Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, Area 5 – Taxation, Area 6 – Motor Vehicle, Area 7 – Revenue and Pensions, Area 8 – Department of Banking and Insurance & Real Estate Commission, and Area 9 – New Jersey State Police within L&PS and NJ State Parole Board (not covered by other CWA Locals).
Only CWA Local 1033 active members in good standing who have been paying full dues consecutively for at least nine (9) months of the twelve (12) months prior to the date of an election announcement shall be eligible to hold an elective office, pursuant to the CWA Local 1033 By-Laws, Section 3 B. – General Provisions, pg.13. The twelve-month calendar effective date starts as of Sunday, September 1, 2019, to Monday, August 31, 2020. Each nominee must obtain the requested amount of signatures to be a candidate on the ballot. Duly nominated candidates running unopposed will be declared “elected” at the final certification of this election. Members wishing to run for office may pick up election materials and instructions starting September 8, 2020, thru Monday, September 14, 2020, 8:30 – 4:30 M-F. No weekend hours or after hours. Due to COVID-19 Nominations for candidates are being held electronically. We are using a secure online platform hosted by Election Buddy. Each qualifying member will be emailed a link to choose the nominees of their choice. Online petitions would be available on September 16, 2020, at 12 noon and must be submitted by October 16, 2020, by 12 noon. Please reach out to the Local to Update Your Email Addresses. Please call the Local at 609-394-7725 to arrange a time to pick up your packet.
Update 11/09/2020: Click here to view the 2020 Nomination Petition results for CWA LOCAL 1033 2020 ELECTION of OFFICERS
Ballots for the Election will be mailed on December 7, 2020. Ballots MUST BE RECEIVED (Not Postmarked) by 5pm on January 7, 2021. The ballot count will take place at YES Elections formally known as Election America, 155 Mineola Blvd, Mineola, NY 11501 on January 8, 2021. Members of the Election Committee will pick up ballots at the postal box in Mineola, N.Y. at 10 a.m. PLEASE UPDATE YOUR HOME ADDRESS
PLEASE WEAR YOUR MASK
NJ State Worker Furlough Implementation
Updated 7/13/20 to include UI FAQ for State workers represented by CWA
See: Guidance on Filing Unemployment Benefits for Furloughed State Workers
- Note: If you already filed a claim, do not refile.
- Note: Regardless of where you live, you file your unemployment claim with the NJ Department of Labor. UI claims are filed in the state where you work, not the state where you live.
Do you have a Unemployment Insurance question?
See: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BY STATE WORKERS ON FURLOUGH REPRESENTED BY CWA
CWA COVID 2020 Emergency Agreement
UPDATE: 6/30/20:
Guidance for Furloughed NJ State Workers Represented by CWA
CWA Tips for furloughed state workers filing for unemployment insurance
Update: 6/27/20: The Job Security MOA was overwhelmingly ratified.
13595 yes
1318 no
14913 total
Your State Worker Bargaining Team successfully completed negotiations on a very important No Layoff Agreement with the Murphy Administration.
UPDATE: 6/30/20:
A Message to CWA Executive Branch State Workers From Your Bargaining Committee
Dear Sisters, Brothers, Union Family,
Last night, your State Worker Bargaining Team successfully completed negotiations on a very important No Layoff Agreement with the Murphy Administration.
This Agreement will protect our members job security during the worst economic upheaval since the Great Depression. It includes a deferral of the upcoming July 2020 raise and a rescheduling of the April 2022 raise. It includes some furlough days, but most of which will be eligible for unemployment.
We will provide the details of this Agreement to our members within the coming days and you will have an opportunity to vote on this No Layoff Agreement this week.
We are proud of the agreement that we negotiated over the past several weeks. Deferring wage increases and having workers furloughed, even for a few days, is difficult. But in an environment such as this, we believe that we have accomplished something remarkable: Job protection for our members and their families. We hope that once you understand the details of this Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that you will agree and vote yes.
You will soon receive detailed information. We will have a Townhall Call to go over the Agreement, and you will be emailed voting instructions as soon as they are completed.
In Solidarity,
John Rose, President Local 1031
Patrick Kavanagh, President Local 1032
Gaye Palmer, President Local 1033
Adam Liebtag, President Local 1036
Ken McNamara, President Local 1037
Shawn Ludwig, President Local 1038
Carolyn Wade, President Local 1040
Hetty Rosenstein, NJ Area Director
Dennis Trainor, CWA District 1 Vice President
CWA Update on NJ State budget $10B shortfall and negotiations to protect jobs
Dear State Worker Union Family,
We have heard from many members who are rightfully concerned about the State budget and how we will be impacted. If you have been a State Worker since 2009, you will remember that in response to the last economic “crash” we negotiated a Furlough/Wage Deferral/No Layoff Agreement with Governor Corzine. At that time, the State was facing a $2 billion shortfall. That Agreement included 10 days of furloughs, an 18-month deferral of the across the board raise, and enforceable job security for our members.
When Chris Christie was elected Governor, he was enraged about this Agreement because it made it impossible for him to layoff the 10,000 workers he said he would layoff during his campaign. That agreement was overwhelmingly ratified by members and, as it turns out, was indeed “Christie-proof” and protected members’ jobs.
The State is now facing a $10 billion shortfall – something much worse than the 2009 shortfall. In response, we have embarked upon negotiations with Governor Murphy to explore all available options to again protect as many jobs as possible. Layoffs would not only be disastrous for our membership and have additional drag on the state economy, but the public services provided by our membership are needed now more than ever. We know that a federal aid package and borrowing are both under discussion. The reality is furloughs and layoffs would not solve the budget shortfall – federal aid and careful borrowing are both needed.
We cannot, at this time, discuss these negotiations publicly or answer ANY questions about them. Like all negotiations, we will share information with members as much as possible, but we must be careful with our ongoing discussions. We know there are a lot of rumors and speculation because members are very concerned. What we can tell you is that our goal is to protect jobs at a time of great risk to public workers and public services and we will proceed as we always do, in a democratic way, with members ultimately deciding the course of action.
We are letting you know this now, so that you are not surprised if we ask you to support an Agreement that includes some things that are immediately a sacrifice, but that ultimately protect our jobs. We do not know if we will be successful in reaching such an agreement. The circumstances are much worse than after the 2008 economic crash. Today’s circumstances are more dire and present a greater threat to our members job security – but we are going to try to protect every one of our member’s jobs.
In Solidarity,
John Rose, President Local 1031
Ken McNamara, President Local 1037
Patrick Kavanagh, President Local 1032
Shawn Ludwig, President CWA Local 1038
Gaye Palmer, President Local 1033
Carolyn Wade, President Local 1040
Adam Liebtag, President CWA Local 1036
UPDATES ON FURLOUGH RULES FOR NEW JERSEY STATE WORKERS
May 22, 2020
Dear Union Family,
Please read this update carefully.
You have probably read about the Steve Sweeney Job Share/Furlough bill that the Legislature passed. This bill is an update of 2013 Job Sharing legislation that permits partial furloughs, and the only change appears to be a clarification that employees make a full pension payment during the furlough and receive full credit. (Which was the practice, but was not in the law.) This bill requires that there is Union agreement. Although Sweeney is touting the possibility of 100,000 furloughs of public workers, it is CWA’s intention to use this legislation or the current law only if it will avoid the worst prospect – layoffs. This bill does not cause mandatory furloughs. They must be negotiated and agreed to by the union.
You may have also read that the Governor has approved a change to a Civil Service Rule that previously only permitted 30-day VOLUNTARY furloughs but will permit longer Furloughs without loss of healthcare or pension benefits to prevent layoff. Please note – these furloughs cannot be made unilaterally. Furloughs that apply to multiple workers represented by CWA have to be negotiated. Individual workers can make use of the Voluntary Furlough regulation where it applies to their circumstances.
Our problem is not the legislation or the Rule. This legislation and Rule, while tools, would not do enough to stem the bleeding of revenues to the State and Local municipalities. With the current level of losses to revenues, the State is facing at least 10 BILLION (that’s a B!) in lost revenues. If these revenues are not made up through federal funding or bonding, there will be massive cuts to the State, to counties, and to municipalities. This doomsday scenario requires responsible and strenuous action from our Congress and from the NJ Legislature in the form of support for the Governor’s plan to bond to make up for lost revenues.
Neither the Sweeney Furlough Bill nor the revised Civil Service put our members in harms’ way by their passage. We are deeply engaged and watching these developments and we will take responsible actions that protect our members. The genuine and immediate threat is the loss of $10 billion in revenues and the need for federal aid and for State borrowing.
CWA is preparing for all contingencies. We are talking with the Administration regularly, we are actively supporting Federal legislation, and we are speaking with our State and Federal officials about financing.
Our entire approach is the safety of our members, the protection of jobs and healthcare, and the maintenance of public services.
We are planning several Telephone Townhall calls to discuss our contingency planning and we will send you notices next week about how to join the call(s). There will be a call specific to State workers as well as a call that will cover the specific challenges that are facing some of our State colleges.
When we have those calls, we will call you at the number that you have provided to us. If you have not been receiving the calls, please go here now, and give us your phone number.
We know that you have many questions and concerns about the future of your job and the important work that you do. We will have some answers when we have the call. For now, please be assured that our Union is very proactively engaged in protecting all our members.
In Solidarity,
John Rose, President, CWA Local 1031
Patrick Kavanagh, President, CWA Local 1032
Gaye Palmer, President, CWA Local 1033
Adam Liebtag, President, CWA Local 1036
Ken McNamara, President, CWA Local 1037
Shawn Ludwig, President, CWA Local 1038
Carolyn Wade, President, CWA Local 1040
Hetty Rosenstein, NJ Director
Dennis Trainor, Vice President District 1
Register Now to Vote by Mail in the NJ Primary Election
A New Jersey voter may vote by mail by completing the Application for Vote by Mail Ballot and return the application to their County Clerk.
To receive your ballot by mail, the application must be received by the County Clerk 7 days prior to the election. June 30, 2020, is the deadline to apply for a Mail-In Ballot by mail for Primary Election. Please note, the County Clerk cannot accept faxed or emailed copies of an Application for Vote by Mail Ballot, unless you are a Military or Overseas Voter, since an original signature is required.
Applications for Vote by Mail Ballot can be found here.
2020 Primary Election Timeline:
May 13: Deadline for Change of Party Affiliation Declaration
May 30: Commencement of Mailing Regular Mail-In Ballots for Primary Election
June 30: Voter Registration Deadline to Register to Vote in the Primary Election
July 7: Primary Election Day, Ballots must be postmarked by this date
Please contact the local if you have any questions.
CWA Local 1033 Political Action Committee
Action Alert: Send an email to your Member of Congress to protect Public Services!
You may have read Governor Murphy’s warning that without assistance from the Federal Government, New Jersey will suffer unheard of layoffs of state, county, municipal and education workers.
Although there are no plans in place for these types of layoffs, this was not an idle threat. Income tax, sales tax, fees, and other revenues have plummeted, while the demand for services and cost of addressing the virus, have skyrocketed. The State has already spent hundreds of millions of dollars on Personal Protective Equipment and testing, and as we know there still isn’t nearly enough equipment or testing.
Why aren’t layoffs an answer?
1. Our public services were already extremely understaffed before this hit. State and county and municipal workplaces have been down more than 20% of staff since 2008. We can’t lose more workers. The Emergency has stopped a great deal of work and left all but emergency and direct care work backlogged. But this work cannot be delayed forever and how will it ever get done if there are tens of thousands of layoffs. Will we never have parks? Who will help people get food stamps? Are we going to reward the heroes of this pandemic by laying them off?
2. Layoffs are a blunt instrument. Many jobs are partially paid for by Federal Funds. If you cut those jobs, there is actually very little in savings generated. Many fully state-funded or county and municipally-funded jobs are filled by essential workers and are direct services for those most in need.
3. Putting more people on unemployment will stress the economy, not relieve it. Loss of income and healthcare benefits will turn the workers who were serving the public and propping up the economy into families in need who are taxing limited public resources.
4. The greatest source of public money goes to public education. Are we going to layoff thousands of teachers? Close schools forever? Eliminate all education other than bare bones? Destroying the education for a generation of children cannot be the answer.
What’s to be done?
Write and call your Member of Congress:
Senator Menendez (D-NJ) and Senator Cassidy (R-LA) are sponsoring the State and Municipal Aid for Recovery and Transition (SMART) Fund, a bill for a $500 billion fund for state and local governments. STATES, COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES need this bill! The bill is supported by both Republican and Democratic governors all over the country. Please send an email to your Member of Congress and tell them to sponsor and support this bill.
Don’t delay! Act now.
In Solidarity,
CWA New Jersey
CWA National News
- Blizzard Entertainment Workers Ratify Historic Video Game Contracts With CWA September 10, 2026
- Four-Year Fair Contract Fight Finished at Forbes September 10, 2026
- Landslide Organizing Victory for Denver Library Workers September 10, 2026
- Centre Daily Times Workers Speedrun Contract Process To Beat Back AI Slop September 10, 2026
- AFA-CWA Flight Attendants Picket Outside Frontier Headquarters September 10, 2026
- Union Members Get up to 35% Off and a Free DOUBLE Upgrade on Avis Car Rentals September 10, 2026
- Blizzard Entertainment Workers Ratify Historic Video Game Contracts with CWA September 9, 2026
- BattleAxe Digital Workers Secure Voluntary Union Recognition with CWA September 8, 2026
- Wikimedia Foundation Workers Overwhelmingly Vote to Form Union with CWA September 4, 2026
- National Braille Press Workers Call for Union and Community Support September 3, 2026