Everything he bargained for
Cernek leaves enduring legacy on PBA ’ s collective bargaining endeavors
n BY MITCHELL KRUGEL n PHOTOS BY ED CARATTINI JR .
Less than a year into his job with Lacey Township and as a Local 238 member , John Cernek made a move that profoundly elevated his career . And his life . The 35-year-old Cernek snuck into the NJ State PBA Collective Bargaining Seminar under cover of other members from Local 238 .
So began a pursuit of research , information and expertise that led Cernek to become one of the foremost labor relations gurus in the history of the State PBA . He made the PERC website his required reading . He devoured arbitrations , court decisions and anything to make him better prepared to negotiate a Local 238 contract that elevated his fellow members ’ rights and their lives . And he thrived on being able to offer any Local that asked even a tidbit of information that could improve salary , benefits and work conditions in some small way , shape or form .
After 25-plus years of collective bargaining flowing through his blood and sweat , Cernek shed some tears when he signed off duty at the start of the 31st PBA Collective Bargaining Seminar on Feb . 6 . A prolonged standing ovation at the start of the seminar ’ s opening session recognized a legacy that furthered some of the PBA ’ s most illustrious endowments .
“ John lives and breathes this ; this is his second career . Maybe his first , in his heart ,” extolled George O ’ Brien , the State PBA ’ s Labor Relations Consultant who has worked hand-in-hand with Cernek in his role as the union ’ s collective bargaining chair for the past four years .
“ If you want to emulate John , step up to the plate and make a contribution ,” O ’ Brien continues . “ He ’ s a doer . He goes out and accomplishes the goal . He ’ s not looking for adoration , though he has it from the members . They respect the hell out of him .”
Cernek ’ s passion for labor representation ignited pre-law enforcement , when he worked for a trucking company that was a union shop . Corporate restructuring forced him out , along with 60 percent of the workforce , and took away all benefits that had been accrued . He called it legal theft .
“ I decided that no matter what I did , I would never put my fate in somebody else ’ s hands and let that happen , if I could do something to prevent it ,” Cernek recalled .
In 1977 , Cernek was on the list to get hired at the police department in his native Lacey Township . But he turned down the job , and not just because it would have left him with a one-third pay cut .
There was no sunshine at the time regarding pension and benefits . And all decisions were at the will of the chief . As far as labor relations , “ it was the dark ages ,” he describes .
Instead , Cernek went to work with the fire department at Great Adventure and wound up serving as president of the International Association of Firefighters unit . He helped that Local win an arbitration , and at the same time , Local 238 was just starting its own arbitration . Cernek helped win that .
So at 34 years and 10 months old , Cernek became a law enforcement officer and member of Local 238 . Within a couple of days , he was added to the Local E-Board as vice president . A year later , Cernek became Local president , a position he held until 2007 , when he became the Lacey Township State Delegate . Cernek ’ s name has been attached to every Lacey Township collective bargaining agreement since 1994 .
“ That is absolutely a badge of honor ,” he confided . “ I ’ m proud that I have been able to always look out for the bigger picture and the good order and future of the bargaining unit .”
As he climbed the ranks of union representation , Cernek ascended to take on some noble positions . He retired as the PBA ’ s 10th Vice President and was the final board member PBA Past President Tony Wieners named before retiring in 2014 .
Cernek also served as chair of the Ocean County Conference , a position he bequeathed when being asked to fulfill one of the PBA ’ s most important roles as Collective Bargaining Committee chair . The Mount Rushmore of that storied rank includes Wieners and Executive Vice President Marc Kovar , who named Cernek as his successor .
“ I ’ m honored to be in that company ,” he confirmed . “ I live to argue , and by that , I mean negotiate .”
Cernek said that his proclivity for negotiation is rooted in preparation . This is the lesson he most wants to pass on to Locals throughout the PBA .
“ Be prepared , so you know more than the person you are negotiating against ,” he detailed . “ You can ’ t get buried in a corner if you have the answers . And if you do the research and you know the questions , you can get the upper hand .”
Cernek developed a propensity for holding the upper hand without making negotiation contentious .
“ He had a knack for doing battle with the town ,” notes Alan
46 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ FEBRUARY 2018