What is the JCAU?

JCAU History

The Joint Council of Affiliated Unions (JCAU) was founded in 1994 in anticipation of the State of New Jersey taking over the county court system. Prior to that unification of the state court system, there were 77 different local unions representing court employees in 77 different bargaining units. After unification in 1995, these 77 units were consolidated into just six bargaining units: Professional (non-case related), Professional (case-related), Professional Supervisory, Administrative, Support Staff and Support Staff Supervisory.

Prior to unification, there were six AFL-CIO unions that represented court employees. As a result of the consolidation, the six unions decided to create a new union in which they would cooperatively pool their resources and provide joint representation.

Shortly thereafter, in the spring of 1995, NJ's Judiciary workers voted in a statewide election to have the JCAU represent them in three different bargaining units: the Administrative, Support, and Support Staff Supervisory Units. Subsequently, it has become two bargaining units: Support and Support Supervisory.

Under the bylaws of the JCAU, each one of the six unions (AFSCME, CWA, IFPTE, OPEIU, IBT, and USWA) has one member on the Executive Board. The Executive Board is responsible for conducting negotiations and appoints a Negotiating Committee made up of rank and file and representatives from the union.

The JCAU remains committed to the union principle that "In Unity there is Strength!"