Warren
Hills set to keep fighting
Undeterred by reinstatement
order. District intends to appeal ruling to rehire 15
ex-employees.
Saturday, January 21, 206 • By LYNN OLANOFF •
The Express-Times
The Warren Hills Regional School District
plans to appeal a recent state appellate court decision
ordering 15 employees who were fired in 2002 to be
reinstated with back pay, officials said Friday.
The school board voted this week to
appeal the case to the state Supreme Court.
The board is appealing the December
appellate court decision in favor of 14 bus drivers and one
mechanic fired shortly after they decided to join a teachers
union, district Attorney John Zaiter said.
Zaiter said he's hopeful the state's
highest court will take up the case.
"It's a sad day when salaries of bus
drivers take precedence" over other educational needs, he
said Friday.
The Dec. 22 appellate court decision
upheld a 2004 state Public Employment Relations Commission
decision to reinstate the 15 employees with back pay, said
Kathy Coulibaly, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Education
Association.
Until the school board's appeal is
decided, the appellate court decision does not take effect,
said district Superintendent Peter Merluzzi.
The former employees are hopeful they
will be reinstated, Coulibaly said. Many are area residents,
but had to find other jobs farther away than the ones they
had, she said.
"It definitely had serious
repercussions," Coulibaly said, citing lost health and
pension benefits among them. "I know they're eager to come
back and work in their community."
The school board voted unanimously on
June 26, 2002, to fire the 15 employees and hire Snyder Bus
Service to cut costs for student transport.
The employees had voted on May 23, 2002,
to join the Warren Hills Education Association.
"This board saved hundreds of thousands
of dollars in a time when it was really needed to pay for
teachers," Zaiter said Friday.
Reporter Lynn Olanoff can be reached at 908-475-8044 or by
e-mail at lolanoff@express-times.com.
© 2006 The Express-Times. Used with
permission.
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