IN THE MATTER OF STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND FRATERNAL ORDEROF POLICE LODGE 91(PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION)

# Court Ruling Summary: New Jersey Police Union Salary Case ## What Happened The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 91 disputed a salary cap imposed during negotiations for their first-ever union contract with the State of New Jersey's Division of Criminal Justice. The union argued that a two percent limit on salary increases shouldn't apply when they were negotiating their initial collective bargaining agreement. ## What the Court Decided The appellate court sided with the state, ruling that the two percent salary cap does apply to newly certified unions negotiating their first contract. The court upheld the earlier decision made by New Jersey's Public Employment Relations Commission. ## Why This Matters for Workers This ruling affects workers in newly formed unions, particularly in public sector jobs. It establishes that statutory salary limits can restrict initial contract negotiations, even when a union is bargaining for the first time. Workers should understand that new unions may face legal constraints on wage increases during early negotiations, regardless of their arguments for exceptions. This underscores the importance of understanding applicable state laws before entering contract talks.