Public employees throughout Atlantic City are pushing back against what many see as an unfair reduction in rights and privileges by the local government. Some of the unions that represent these workers are considering lawsuits to reclaim civil service status for workers across many different areas of the public sector, including workers from public offices like city hall to firefighters and police, all of whom lost civil service status in 2016 as a part of a takeover of public works and services by the state.
Without civil service status, unions and workers have fewer means to resolve problems that the workforce faces. In many instances, fewer employees now shoulder many more responsibilities, stretching services thin and making it more difficult for public employees to do their jobs effectively or receive fair compensation. In contrast to other areas of New Jersey, Atlantic City public employees often receive meager benefits and face increased workloads with fewer resources to address them.
Many workers find themselves stuck in this kind of limbo, whether they work in the public sector or private sector, where upper management staff make decisions with wide-ranging, potentially unlawful and unfair consequences that flow downward. Without strong legal tools, this is not easy to resolve.
If you believe that your employer is not treating you fairly, it is always wise to seek out a clear understanding of your legal options. Even if you don’t know where to begin, there are laws in place that specifically protect employees, and a strong legal strategy can go a long way towards protecting your employment rights, no matter how you make your living.
