No Paid Juneteenth Holiday For You, Hoboken Tells Municipal Supervisors

HOBOKEN, NJ — Want to take off for the day that commemorates slavery? Better listen to the boss.

Juneteenth is now a federal and state holiday, but Hoboken's municipal superiors won't get it as a paid holiday unless their contract — which they've been negotiating for several years — is settled by then, city Business Administrator Jason Freeman wrote in a memo to the union last week.

"Although HMEA [Municipal Employees' Association] employees have June 17, 2022, off to recognize the Juneteenth holiday (as it is a recognized holiday in their CBA), HMSA employees are required to report to work that day, unless they utilize their accumulated time," says the June 7 memo. "If an agreement is reached between now and the 17th, then the city will honor both Juneteenth and whichever date is agreed to..." as a floating holiday.

Non-essential state workers and many government and private employees have gotten the holiday off starting last year. This year, some schools are closed for it as well, including in Hoboken.

Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, is a new federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. It's also a state holiday in five states, including New Jersey.

Governor Murphy declared it a holiday in New Jersey in 2020 and Pres. Joe Biden declared it a federal holiday in 2021.

It marks the date, June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers freed the last remaining slaves in Texas, enforcing the Emancipation Proclamation, two and half years after it was originally issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863.

A source said that 52 employees are affected, and that the municipal workers' union has been working without a contract for five years.

The memo says that Hoboken's municipal employees (not supervisors) will get the holiday off because it's in their Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Hoboken city spokesperson Marilyn Baer responded on Tuesday by saying, "Most City Hall employees have Friday off in recognition of Juneteenth based upon the Hoboken Municipal Employee's Association's acceptance of a new agreement that recognizes the holiday. However, to date, the Hoboken Municipal Supervisor's Association (approximately 50 employees) has not yet agreed to a contract on the same terms as proposed by the city. Despite multiple offers, all of which would recognize the holiday, the HMSA has not recognized Juneteenth up until now."

She added, "Additionally, the administration has proposed a plan for HMSA employees to observe Juneteenth as an off day without an agreed-to contract, which was unfortunately not agreed to. Nonetheless, the administration is hopeful the city and the union can settle this matter amicably in the coming days so that all employees can recognize Juneteenth."

Meanwhile, the mayor and city will hold a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony on Thursday, June 16, at 5 p.m. at City Hall at 94 Washington St. The ceremony will include a musical performance and a poetry reading by a local student.