Dear Editor:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Unioncontractdemands/

Here is the link to the online petition of the Union Concession Postcard. You can go here and sign the petition online by providing your name, street address and e-mail. Or you can also print this, provide your address, sign and fax it to: 201-526-0460.

I feel these eight demands are very reasonable considering, for example, how health care has increased year over year. At the school board meeting, the board stated that health care costs went up 23 percent from the year before. Hoboken is self insured so all of that expense comes out of our taxes. Workers do not contribute at all to monthly premiums which may leave them unaware of how health care costs have ballooned over the last 10 years. It's like a baked in raise.

I am not asking workers to go without insurance just contribute to the monthly premium. If the health insurance benefit was worth $10,000 per employee in 2007 and the value of the plan went up by 23 percent or $12,300, it’s a baked in raise for everyone of $2,300.

Here are the demands again:

1) “Right size” govt. Reduce number of workers per best practices determined by outside professionals.

2) Share benefits premiums - municipal workers must pay a portion of a High Deductible Medical premiums.

3) Eliminate 'special' vacation days (Christenings, Bar Mitzvahs, Weddings, etc.). All vacation must be deducted from the employee's regular vacation balance.

4) Eliminate the ability to accrue unused vacation and overtime towards retirement. Limit sick days to 10 per year. Eliminate terminal pay.

5) Re-structure Management Pay - Employees with managerial responsibility must work 10 hours of overtime at the regular rate before they are paid time and a half.

6) Re-structure tuition reimbursement -Tuition re-imbursement will only be granted for degrees that will enhance employees' performance in their current job. The employee must give the town 3 years of service after degree completion or they have to pay back the reimbursement.

7) Require all departments which consider full time less than 40 hours a week to bring their work week to a minimum of 40 hours.

8) Require full adherence to Hoboken's Expense Policy and Procedures. Lack of adherence, whether deliberate or accidental, is grounds for immediate termination.

Donna Antonucci