ASSEMBLY STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 980

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MAY 20, 1996

      The Assembly State Government Committee reports favorably Assembly, No. 980.

      This bill prohibits public employers from unilaterally changing the terms and conditions of employment before agreement is reached with a majority representative of a public employee group, notwithstanding that a collective bargaining agreement may have expired, that the parties are at impasse in negotiations, or that the parties have exhausted the impasse procedures of the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC). The bill also makes it an unfair practice under the "New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act" for a public employer to unilaterally change the terms and conditions of employment before agreement is reached with a majority representative of a public employee group.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 1996 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.