– Strike Could Affect Nearly 250,000 New Yorkers Living in More Than One Thousand Apartment, Condo and Co-op Buildings –
New York, NY – February 17, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Apartment building workers have rejected a contract proposal from the Bronx Realty Advisory Board (BRAB), a real estate industry association representing Bronx building owners, saying management’s demands to cut healthcare and retirement are unacceptable.
“Cutting essential benefits like health care and retirement isn’t an option working families can afford to entertain,” said Kyle Bragg, 32BJ Vice President. “New York City workers need wages and benefits that are in line with the cost of living in one of the most expensive cities in the world.”
The two sides have met twice this month in an effort to reach a new, multi-year contract for more than 3,000 building superintendents, janitors, handypersons, porters, firepersons, doormen, elevator operators and garbage handlers before the contract expires on Tuesday, March 15th.
“Supporting two kids on my own is tough,” said Jose Cosme, who has been a maintenance man at the Lambert Houses apartments in the South Bronx for close to 20 years. “I need to keep my retirement benefits for their future and affordable healthcare for their wellbeing.”
Failure to reach an agreement, before the March 15th expiration, could lead to a strike directly affecting more than a quarter of a million New Yorkers living in over 1,000 apartment, condo and co-op buildings in the Bronx.
With more than 120,000 members concentrated in eight states, including 70,000 in New York, 32BJ is the largest property service workers union in the country. For more information, visit www.standwithbuildingworkers.org .
Contact:
Kwame Patterson: 212-388-3676
312-371-2485
Matt Nerzig: 212-539-2882
917-584-0787
