• On July 6, 2012, in accordance with Hudson County Policy, Chapter 12, Unlawful Harassment/Sexual Harassment Policy, the PBA President reported an incident of sexual harassment to Internal Affairs.

• On July 16, 2012, the PBA President was ordered to report to the Administrative Building on Pavonia Avenue to be interviewed by the third party law firm of LeClair Ryan in reference to the incident.   The interview was to take place on July 18, 2012.

• On July 18, 2012, the PBA President reported to the Administrative Building and gave truthful and honest testimony to the law firm of LeClair Ryan of his knowledge of the events which involved one of the Good Old Boys supervisors disciplining a female civilian for refusing to give in to his sexual advances.

• On July 19, 2012, the Confidential Aide who calls himself "Deputy Director" revoked the 10+ year old Past Practice of allowing the PBA President full release time to conduct PBA business and assigned him to a uniformed post in receiving as punishment for reporting the illegal activities of his crony.

BACKGROUND:

PBA Local 109 is the Union representing over 400 rank and file correction officers in Hudson County.  In and about 10 years ago, Joseph Jordan, the Union President at the time, unable to effectively represent the membership which was considerably smaller in number, filed a grievance with the County to have full release time.  In other words, the President would spend his regularly assigned 40 hour week doing his Union activities and in exchange would not put in for the exorbitant amount of overtime he was working.  This benefited both the Union and the County in that the Union members had 24/7 access to their Union President and the County also had the same freedom to schedule Departmental Hearings and Internal Affairs Interviews at any time together with the added benefit of not paying overtime.

The County Director of Personnel at the time, Larry Henderson, granted the grievance and the agreement has been established as a past practice set in place for over 10 years now.

The duties of the Union President include among other things:

• Attending Internal Affairs Hearings

• Attending Internal Affairs Interviews

• Attending Departmental Hearings

• Attending Hearings at the Office of Administrative Law

• Meeting with Attorneys over Disciplinary Matters

• Meeting with Attorneys over PBA Business and Contractual Matters

• Attending County Conference Meetings

• Attending State PBA Meetings

 The PBA President is on call 24/7 and responds to numerous calls through the evening and over the midnight shift without compensation. 

This latest Action taken by Confidential Aide, Kirk Eady comes as he attempts to bully and intimidate the PBA to disregard the Sexual Harassment Policy and to turn a blind eye while his buddy, a Supervisor, attempts to use his position to force a subordinate into a sexual relationship.  This comes on the heels of Director Aviles' outward display of disdain toward another female as he forbids her to pump breast milk for her infant daughter in violation of Federal Law.

The PBA President wants to assure its members that he will continue to do what is right and fair despite his assignment and he is proud to wear his uniform although he is embarrassed and ashamed of the current jail leadership.

He encourages each and everyone of you to continue to report abuse to him and all members of the Executive Board who will continue to act on your behalf and will not be intimidated by these childish tactics.

View Arbitration Award

This Award is currently under Appeal by the County who still refuses release time to Union Officials.