P.E.R.C. No. 2026-44, Morris Cty Prosecutor's Office

CaptionSTATE OF NEW JERSEY BEFORE THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION In the Matter of COUNTY OF MORRIS, Respondent, -and- Docket No. IA-2026-005 PBA LOCAL 327, Appellant/Union. ¶

SynopsisSYNOPSIS ¶

The Public Employment Relations Commission affirms an interest arbitration award that was remanded in P.E.R.C. No. 2021-43, 47 NJPER 468 (¶110 2021) for the arbitrator to clarify and address the N.J.S.A. 34:13A-16g factors as to the award’s dismissal of the PBA’s increased workday/ workweek proposal. For the Remand Award, the PBA submitted a letter to the arbitrator providing further argument in support of its increased workday/ workweek proposal, and the County submitted a brief in response. The arbitrator then issued the Remand Award addressing the remanded issues. The County submitted a supplementary brief concurring with the Remand Award, and the PBA did not file a supplementary brief. ¶

This synopsis is not part of the Commission decision. It has been prepared for the convenience of the reader. It has been neither reviewed nor approved by the Commission. ¶

CaptionSTATE OF NEW JERSEY BEFORE THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION In the Matter of COUNTY OF MORRIS, Respondent, -and- Docket No. IA-2026-005 PBA LOCAL 327, Appellant/Union. ¶

AppearancesAppearances: ¶

For the Appellant, Crivelli, Barbati & DeRose, LLC, attorneys (Frank M. Crivelli, Esq. of counsel and on the brief; Donald C. Barbati, Esq., on the brief) ¶

For the Respondent, Cleary Giacobbe Alfieri Jacobs, LLC, attorneys (Matthew J. Giacobbe, Esq. and Gina L. Rabuck-Anton, Esq., of counsel and on the brief). ¶

DECISION ¶

On March 26, 2026 we remanded an interest arbitration award (Award) between the County of Morris (County) and PBA Local 327 (PBA). P.E.R.C. No. 2021-43, 47 NJPER 468 (¶110 2021). On remand, we asked the arbitrator to provide clarification and application of the N.J.S.A. 34:13A-16g factors as to the Award’s analysis of the PBA’s “Final Offer Number 8” , which sought an increase from a 7.5-hour workday and 37.5-work week to an 8-hour workday and 40-hour work week. ¶

On April 9, 2026, the PBA submitted a letter to the arbitrator providing further argument in support of its increased workday/workweek proposal. On April 10, the County submitted a response to the PBA’s April 9 submission to the arbitrator. The arbitrator considered both of the parties’ submissions in addition to the documentary evidence and arguments previously submitted in rendering the remand award. ¶

On April 23, 2026, the arbitrator issued a 26-page remand award (Remand Award) clarifying the Award’s dismissal of the PBA’s increased workday/workweek proposal, and discussing in detail the documentary evidence and testimony supporting his decision. Pursuant to the Commission’s Order in P.E.R.C. No. 2021-43, the parties were given fourteen days from the issuance of the Remand Award to file supplementary briefs. On May 11, the County submitted its supplementary brief concurring with the arbitrator’s clarification and requesting that the Commission affirm the Remand Award. The PBA did not file a supplementary brief. ¶

Given the arbitrator’s amended explanation in the Remand Award as to why the PBA’s increased workday/workweek proposal was dismissed, and the PBA’s lack of opposition to the Remand Award, we affirm the Award as amended by the Remand Award. ¶

OrderORDER ¶

The Award, as amended by the Remand Award, is affirmed. ¶

BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION ¶

Chair Hennessy-Shotter, Commissioners Davey, Higgins, and Hines all voted in favor of this decision. Commissioner Papero recused himself. Commissioner Eaton was not present. ¶

ISSUED: May 28, 2026 ¶

Trenton, New Jersey ¶