07/29/2026
CWA Local 1088 Membership Update
OCBSS Board Meeting – July 28, 2026
On July 28, 2026, CWA Local 1088 President Diana Leon and Secretary Wendy Solomon attended the Ocean County Board of Social Services Board Meeting to advocate on behalf of our bargaining unit and bring forward concerns raised by our members.
Staffing Shortages and Medicaid Changes
President Leon addressed the ongoing staffing shortages and expressed concern about the upcoming changes to Medicaid regulations under the HR1 legislation. She questioned how the agency plans to manage the anticipated increase in workload resulting from client terminations and recertifications when staff are already stretched thin.
Special concern was raised for our bilingual employees, who continue to shoulder a disproportionate workload due to the shortage of bilingual staff available to serve our community.
President Leon also reiterated our concerns regarding employee burnout and asked for an update on the status of the Special Investigation. While morale has shown signs of improving, we emphasized that the work is not finished. We urged the agency to continue the investigation, particularly in departments where concerns persist, including the Special Response Unit (SRU).
Administration's Response
Deputy Director Jennifer Hangerdoorn explained that the State has already begun notifying clients of the Medicaid changes and that a new online portal will allow individuals to verify their information electronically. A client hotline will also be available to assist with questions, which is expected to help reduce some of the initial workload.
She noted, however, that the agency expects the greatest operational impact during the required six-month recertification process. Ms. Hangerdoorn stressed the importance of ensuring staffing levels are where they need to be before those biannual recertifications begin. She stated that minimizing employee burnout and providing staff with the support necessary to meet increasing workload demands and new performance requirements remains a priority for the agency.
Special Investigation Update
Board Counsel Brian Wilkie responded to President Leon's inquiry regarding the Special Investigation. He advised that the outside attorney has been reviewing a substantial amount of information and documentation in preparation for the next phase of the investigation.
According to Mr. Wilkie, the attorney is scheduled to return onsite during the week of August 10 to continue the investigation. Two units have been identified as priorities, and the Special Response Unit (SRU) is one of them.
Health and Safety Concerns at the Lakewood Office
Secretary Wendy Solomon addressed longstanding health and safety issues affecting employees at the Lakewood office.
She emphasized that many of these concerns have been raised repeatedly over the years but have not been treated with the urgency they deserve.
Two major issues were highlighted:
• The overall condition of the building, including persistent cleanliness issues, excessive dust, and ongoing pest infestations.
• The continued lack of employee-only restrooms, forcing staff to share bathrooms with members of the public.
Regarding building conditions, Secretary Solomon described the ongoing roach infestation, including incidents where roaches have fallen from the ceiling onto employees while they were working at their desks. She also raised concerns about excessive dust throughout the building, which has contributed to respiratory issues and aggravated allergies among employees.
Secretary Solomon also discussed the safety concerns created by requiring employees to share restroom facilities with the public. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, employees have reported multiple incidents involving individuals bathing in restroom sinks, including situations where employees were unexpectedly exposed to individuals in a state of undress.
Additional safety concerns include the discovery of drug paraphernalia and suspected white powder substances in the restrooms, creating the potential for accidental exposure to dangerous substances. Employees have also expressed concerns that, should a violent incident occur inside the restroom, security personnel may not be able to respond quickly enough to prevent injury.
CWA Local 1088 will continue advocating for these longstanding health and safety issues until meaningful solutions are implemented.
Executive Session
The Board entered Executive Session to discuss several matters that were not open to the public. As union representatives, we were not present during those discussions and therefore cannot report on any decisions made.
Topics listed on the Executive Session agenda included:
• General Agency business
• Upcoming retirements
• Alternate Work Schedule Pilot Program
• Remote Work Pilot discussions
• Personal AI assistant use
• Additional personnel and administrative matters
Because these items were not finalized during the public portion of the meeting, no official action was announced.
First CWA Local 1088 Bilingual Employees Roundtable
In addition to attending the July 28 Board Meeting, President Diana Leon and Secretary Wendy Solomon hosted CWA Local 1088's first-ever Bilingual Employees Roundtable on July 27, 2026.
The meeting was attended by both Local 1088 members and non-members from OCBSS and the Judiciary.
We sincerely thank everyone who participated.
Together, we discussed many of the challenges affecting our bilingual employees, including:
• Excessive workloads leading to burnout
• Staffing shortages
• Unpaid out-of-title work
• Salary concerns
• Recruitment and retention of bilingual staff
• Ideas for improving working conditions
Your willingness to speak openly about your experiences helps strengthen our advocacy and ensures your voices are heard.
Looking Ahead
Your Executive Board continues working diligently to improve:
• Working conditions
• Work-life balance
• Competitive salaries
• Strong benefits
• Safe workplaces
The OCBSS Bargaining Committee will meet again on August 13 to continue developing proposals for the upcoming contract negotiations.
Additionally, the OCBSS Mobilization Committee has met several times and continues planning future mobilization efforts in support of our negotiations.
Thank You
We want to sincerely thank every member who has participated in the democratic process of our union by attending membership meetings, participating in our health care rally, engaging in legislative advocacy, reaching out with workplace concerns, and speaking up for coworkers who may not feel comfortable doing so themselves.
We also extend our gratitude to our non-members and to our members' families for supporting our union and standing beside us as we fight for better workplaces and stronger contracts.
Every improvement we have achieved has come from workers who chose to get involved, speak out, and stand together.
If you have ever wondered whether one person's voice can make a difference, the answer is yes.
We encourage every member to stay engaged and become involved in strengthening CWA Local 1088. Together, our collective voice is our greatest strength, and together we will continue fighting for the respect, dignity, and workplace our members deserve.
