Newest Updates
2026
Local 423 North Members (Short Hills)
Overwhelmingly Ratify New 5-Year Contract
Local 423 North Members (Short Hills) overwhelmingly ratified a new Collective Bargaining Agreement at a special ratification meeting last night at the Somerville Elks Lodge in Bridgewater. Immediately following a nearly two-hour presentation by the Union attorney and Union Negotiating Committee, during which Local 423 President and Chief Negotiator Pat Mann opened the floor to dialogue and questions, Short Hills Members participated in a secret-ballot ratification vote, “Yes” to ratify or “No” to reject. The votes were tallied and the results were announced before the meeting was adjourned. President Mann said the new 5-year contract places Short Hills Members on par with many terms in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement of Local 423 Central Members – including 9.5% wage increases in the first three years of the pact (making all Local 423 Members the company’s highest paid unionized workforce in the country), and increases in clothing allowance (to $750/yr.), meal allowance (to $15.00/day), and shift and holiday premiums. President Mann said company negotiators attempted to eliminate protective manpower and scheduling language, concessions they won from locals around the country. “The company didn’t win these concessions from Local 423 Central, and they didn’t win these concessions from Local 423 North. The new Collective Bargaining Agreements for Central and North maintains this vital protective language on scheduling and manpower thresholds,” said President Mann. “Overall, these contracts meet the needs of Members and their families.”
Contract Ratification Meeting
for Local 423 North Members
(Short Hills)
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 • 6:00 p.m.
Somerville Elks Lodge • 375 Union Ave.
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Your Union Negotiating Committee reached a Tentative Agreement with the company for a new labor contract Thursday evening (today). The purpose of this meeting is to conduct a ratification vote. Local 423 President and Chief Negotiator Pat Mann and the Union’s attorney will explain the terms of this new Collective Bargaining Agreement for Short Hills Members. A copy of the MOA will be provided to Short Hills Members at the door. A ratification vote will be conducted immediately following the presentation and a Q&A session. It will be a “Yes” to ratify, or a “No” to reject. Short Hills Members should make every effort to attend this meeting and cast your vote. This is your future and your family’s future.
Note: While all Members of Local 423 are invited to attend, only active Members of Local 423 North (Short Hills) can participate in the vote.
Union Reaches Tentative Agreement
with the Company for
Local 423 North Members
(Short Hills)
Your Union Negotiating Committee, minutes ago, reached a Tentative Agreement with the company on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement for Local 423 North Members (Short Hills). Details on a ratification meeting will be forthcoming. The Committee thanks you for your support and solidarity.
April 1, 2026
Kevin Bennett Is Elected Union Vice President
The Local 423 Membership has elected a new Vice President. In a secret-ballot vote held at a special meeting last night at the Somerville Elks Lodge, Kevin Bennett won election to the position of Local 423 Vice President. Bennett received 32 votes, while Chris McCabe received 23 votes.
The Vice President position was left vacant after Pat Mann ran unopposed and was elected to the position of Union President, which was left vacant due to the retirement of Mike Esposito.
Immediately after Members cast their vote, the ballots were counted by Union Trustees Stephen Mason and Bryan Joyner under the watch of Union Sergeant-at-Arms Rodney Blades. The results were announced by President Mann, who before opening the voting announced that Ryan O’Connor withdrew his name from the election.
Later this month, nominations will be held to fill the Plainfield Executive Board position, which is now vacant due to Bennett’s election to Vice President. Details about the nominations meeting will be announced soon.
Vice President Bennett addressed the Membership, saying, “I appreciate your support. Those who know me know that I have been fighting this company for a long time. I am committed to representing all Local 423 Members. We are stronger when we work together. It is up to us to secure the legacy of those who came before us, and pass it along to the future.”
In his remarks to the Membership, McCabe first congratulated Vice President Bennett and thanked everyone for voting, saying, “Mario (Brizuela) and I were welcomed onto the Executive Board (when Short Hills merged into Local 423 Central). We are working together as one Union, one team, and one family.”
Upon conclusion of the meeting, President Mann thanked the Members for coming out to vote, expressed his gratitude to the candidates, and congratulated the newly elected Vice President.
Union President Announces Appointment of Local 423 Trustees
Local 423 President Pat Mann announced the appointment of Stephen Mason and Bryan Joyner to the position of Union Trustee. Mason is a foreman in Plainfield T&D with close to 30 years on the job, and Joyner is a UM2 and alternate operator in Belle Mead with nearly 20 years on the job.
There Is Strength in Solidarity
Kevin Bennett Is Elected Union Vice President
The Local 423 Membership has elected a new Vice President. In a secret-ballot vote held at a special meeting last night at the Somerville Elks Lodge, Kevin Bennett won election to the position of Local 423 Vice President. Bennett received 32 votes, while Chris McCabe received 23 votes.
The Vice President position was left vacant after Pat Mann ran unopposed and was elected to the position of Union President, which was left vacant due to the retirement of Mike Esposito.
Immediately after Members cast their vote, the ballots were counted by Union Trustees Stephen Mason and Bryan Joyner under the watch of Union Sergeant-at-Arms Rodney Blades. The results were announced by President Mann, who before opening the voting announced that Ryan O’Connor withdrew his name from the election.
Later this month, nominations will be held to fill the Plainfield Executive Board position, which is now vacant due to Bennett’s election to Vice President. Details about the nominations meeting will be announced soon.
Vice President Bennett addressed the Membership, saying, “I appreciate your support. Those who know me know that I have been fighting this company for a long time. I am committed to representing all Local 423 Members. We are stronger when we work together. It is up to us to secure the legacy of those who came before us, and pass it along to the future.”
In his remarks to the Membership, McCabe first congratulated Vice President Bennett and thanked everyone for voting, saying, “Mario (Brizuela) and I were welcomed onto the Executive Board (when Short Hills merged into Local 423 Central). We are working together as one Union, one team, and one family.”
Upon conclusion of the meeting, President Mann thanked the Members for coming out to vote, expressed his gratitude to the candidates, and congratulated the newly elected Vice President.
Union President Announces Appointment of Local 423 Trustees
Local 423 President Pat Mann announced the appointment of Stephen Mason and Bryan Joyner to the position of Union Trustee. Mason is a foreman in Plainfield T&D with close to 30 years on the job, and Joyner is a UM2 and alternate operator in Belle Mead with nearly 20 years on the job.
There Is Strength in Solidarity
