A New Jersey Superior Court Judge ruled today that the City of Orange Township can move forward with plans to layoff 50 employees including police and firefighters. Police, fire and city worker unions filed suit on January 6, 2011 to block the layoffs claiming they would jeopardize public safety, and that the city failed to give them a meaningful opportunity to negotiate.
Judge Patricia Costello disagreed and cleared the city of about 33,000 residents to move forward with the layoff plans in an effort to close a $6 million budget shortfall. The layoffs will be combined with demotions.
Union attorneys are considering an appeal. The layoffs will impact twelve firefighters.