The 32BJ SEIU union of residential building workers, which includes janitors and handymen, reached a tentative agreement with the Real Estate Advisory Board just before what would have been the first such strike since 1991.
The tentative agreement, which was reached before the expiration of the current contract, must be ratified by 32BJ SEIU members and ensures that workers will be at their places of employment as usual on April 21.
In this contract, 32BJ SEIU, which represents 32,000 residential building workers, reaches an agreement on the following issues:
- Earned the highest salary increases in 32BJ SEIU history, with salary increases of nearly 12.6% in four years.
- Delivery of a bonus of $3,000 for essential workers in this time of high inflation.
- Ensuring no sharing of premiums and maintenance of 100% employer-paid health care.
- Paid sick leave and paid vacation protection.
The tentative agreement protects pension and health care benefits while providing a historic salary increase that keeps members ahead of inflation and rising cost of living. The financial security provided in the tentative contract will ensure that New York’s 32,000 doormen, superintendents, resident managers, maintenance staff and janitors can continue to support the city’s 1.5 million residents, while supporting themselves and your families.
This contract would cover those 32,000 employees who work in more than 3,000 buildings in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island and serve 555,000 apartments.
“We have a deal! We made a deal that protects health care, without sharing premiums. We made a deal that protects paid time off. We reached an agreement that provides the financial security our members need at a time of rising inflation. We made a deal our members have earned and deserved,” said 32BJ President Kyle Bragg. “This contract honors the indispensable contributions 32BJ members have made during the pandemic and includes pay bonuses, a powerful recognition of our members’ sacrifice. They were there, keeping our buildings running and our communities safe, when the city needed them most. 32BJ members take pride in showing up to work every day and that includes tomorrow and days to come. I want to thank Howard Rothschild and our negotiating partners at the RAB for working in good faith and reaching a fair deal for both sides.”
The tentative agreement comes less than a week after approximately 10,000 essential residential service workers, including members of 32BJ SEIU from New York to Washington, DC to Miami, rallied on Park Avenue with supporters to demand a fair, non-payback contract. after the members of 32BJ SEIU demonstrated their commitment and service during the pandemic.
At the rally, 32BJ SEIU members voted to give the bargaining committee the power to call a strike, should they decide it was necessary.
Labor leaders and elected officials were in attendance to offer their support, including New York Governor Kathy Hochul and US Senator Chuck Schumer.
With more than 175,000 members in 12 states, 32BJ SEIU is the largest real estate service workers’ union in the country.
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