DISTRICTS CONNECTICUT DC/VA/MD FLORIDA HUDSON VALLEY MID-ATLANTIC NCFO NEW ENGLAND 615 NEW JERSEY NEW YORK WESTERN PA 1201 DIVISIONS CONTRACTS ORGANIZING & CAMPAIGNS GET INVOLVED POLITICAL ACTION MEMBER RESOURCES 32BJ Building Workers Reach Tentative Agreement with Realty Advisory Board
Deal must be ratified by 32BJ membership and includes good raises, maintains benefits and increases funds for training and retirement.
NEW YORK – (RealEstateRama) — 32BJ SEIU’s bargaining committee and the Realty Advisory Board reached a tentative agreement Friday that would provide 11.3% raises over four years, maintain health care, increase funding for training and retirement benefits and added protections against harassment. If ratified by the members, the contract would cover over 31,000 doormen, porters, handypersons and supers in 3,500 buildings throughout Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island serving 1.5 million New Yorkers.
“This agreement honors the valuable contributions of the hardworking men and women who keep our buildings running and make our city strong,” said Hector Figueroa, president of 32BJ SEIU. “With this agreement our members, our families and our communities are moving forward.”
The tentative agreement comes days after thousands of 32BJ members showed their commitment to sticking together at a massive rally with labor leaders and elected officials – including Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio. The agreement keeps pension and health care protected while also providing a strong wage increase that keeps members ahead of inflation and the rising cost of living. These job securities will ensure that New York’s doormen and women, superintendents, resident managers, handypersons, concierges and porters will be able to continue supporting 1.5 million residents of our city while also providing for themselves and their families.
Through this contract, the RAB made clear that they value the skilled and dedicated employees who make New York home for 1.5 million tenants. The unity and strength of 32BJ members, combined with a healthy real estate industry and employers who came to the table ready to negotiate a fair deal, resulted in a fair agreement that will allow residents to enjoy the summer with peace of mind.
32BJ members, who are part of the bargaining committee, said they planned to vote for the contract and encourage their co-workers to do the same.
“This contract will allow me to continue to provide a decent life for my kids. My dream is to send them to college,” said Derbert King, who works as a super in Queens and is a father of three.
The union built tremendous political, community and labor support through this contract campaign. Many elected officials, community groups and other labor unions support 32BJ in the fight to ensure New York remains a city for all.
“We would also like to thank all New Yorkers who showed their support through messages, letters, photos and encouraging words to our members” said Figueroa.
“We have won a strong contract by joining together in union and we will continue to fight together for those who do not yet have a union and suffer under poor conditions and low wages. What makes our union special is that when we win for our families we continue thinking about those workers who also deserve a chance to make ends meet and be able to live in this city,” said Figueroa.
With more than 163,000 members, including 85,000 in New York, 32BJ is the largest property service workers’ union in the country.
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