NYC APARTMENT BUILDING WORKERS Ratify NEW CONTRACT WITH WAGE HIKES, FAMILY HEALTH CARE

May 21, 2010

by New York RealEstateRama

– Four-Year Agreement Includes $547 Million in Wage and Benefit Increases –

New York, NY – May 21, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — New York City apartment building workers ratified a four-year agreement Friday that provides nearly 10% in wage increases, maintains fully employer-paid family health care coverage and keeps pension benefits secure. The new $8.1 billion contract with the Realty Advisory Board (RAB) covers 30,000 doormen, superintendents, resident managers, porters, handymen and concierges at over 3,200 New York City buildings.

“Wage increases, employer-paid health care and a secured retirement plan will give New York City apartment building workers what they need today and the security they will need in the future,” said Mike Fishman, 32BJ President. “Apartment building workers, like so many other hardworking New Yorkers, depend on steady wage increases and benefits to make ends meet.”

The new four year agreement, set to expire in 2014, between 32BJ and the Realty Advisory Board (RAB) maintains benefits, including sick days, overtime, vacation and increases employer contributions to health care by nearly 20 percent–or $182 million–and pensions by over 20 percent. Residential workers also gained wage increases in this agreement that exceed the last contract’s 8.5 percent wage increases.

“The wage increase is great. My kid is going to college next year and that ain’t cheap,” said Carlos Pellicier, a 29-year doorman in northern Manhattan,” “Also, those who are about to retire know that their pensions are secured.”

The two sides reached a tentative agreement in April, and today’s ratification finalizes the contract. The RAB’s Board of Directors ratified the agreement in April.

With more than 120,000 members, including 70,000 in New York, 32BJ is the largest private-sector union in the city.

Contact:
Kwame Patterson: 212-388-3676
312-371-2485
Matt Painter: 212-388-3805
917-561-2758