–Strike Averted at More Than 1,000 Apartment Buildings in the Bronx–
New York, NY – March 25, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Bronx apartment building workers late Thursday ratified a four-year agreement that provides a 6% wage increase over the life of the contract, fully employer-paid family health care coverage, pensions and protects all other benefits.
“In a tough economic environment, this new contract provides working families with the wages, health care and retirement benefits they need to get by in New York City,” said Kyle Bragg, 32BJ Vice President. “We’re glad to have a multi-year contract in place that is fair and reasonable to the workers and management, and one that provides Bronx residents with a professional and stable workforce for years to come.”
The new contract between 32BJ and the Bronx Realty Advisory Board (BRAB)– a real estate industry association representing building owners in the Bronx– covers more than 3,000 supers, assistant supers, janitors, handypersons, porters, firepersons, doormen, elevator operators and garbage handlers.
The new contract maintains paid sick days, holidays, overtime and vacation. Workers also came away with continued employer-paid family healthcare and annual wage increases. Under the agreement, workers’ wages will rise by $45 a week by the end of the contract.
“Keeping my health care affordable and my retirement benefits stable is very important to me,” said Patricia Murchison, who is a porter at a 900-unit Bronx apartment building. “I live check to check trying to make ends meet in this city.”
The two sides reached a tentative agreement on March 14th that averted a strike that would have affected 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, including 70,000 in New York, 32BJ is the largest private-sector union in New York.
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Contact:
Kwame Abasi Patterson
Communications Department
32BJ SEIU
Work (212)388-3676
Cell (312)371-2485
www.seiu32bj.org
