NJ Cops Feb18 | Page 42

2018 NJ STATE PBA Collective Bargaining Seminar Meet the new collective bargaining boss Mike Freeman is fully aware. The Summit Local 55 State Delegate knows that the recent lineage of the PBA’s Collective Bargaining Committee chair goes from Past President Tony Wieners to Executive Vice President Marc Kovar to the recently retired Lacey Township Local 238 State Delegate John Cernek. “They were very good at what they did,” recognized Freeman as he took the reins of the Collective Bargaining Seminar this year. “I have been coming here for 21 years, as a matter of fact. I’ve seen it grow to something I’m proud to be a part of. I hope I can carry it on.” Freeman knows that seminar attendance approached 500 this year and that aspirations for 2019 are even bigger. “Hopefully we can get it to 600 people,” he confirmed. “Since we haven’t been able to negotiate seriously the past eight years and now we’re able to do that this year, next year there is going to be a lot more information we’re able to give out and get peo- ple to understand what is possible again.” As he found a minute to catch his breath midway through the 2018 seminar, Freeman offered a quick pitch to members to start planning for the 2019 edition. 42 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ FEBRUARY 2018 New PBA Collective Bargaining Committee Chair Mike Freeman (left) takes the handoff from retiring chair John Cernek. “Members need to understand there is a new way to do things, and we’re going to be able to show them what that is,” he explained. “People have to understand there are some obstacles we have to overcome. But we’re here to teach them how to do that collectively.” d