–Strike of up to 30,000 Workers Could Directly Affect More than One Million New Yorkers —
New York, NY – April 1, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — More than two thousand New York City doormen and apartment building workers voted early Thursday evening to empower their negotiating committee with the authority to call a strike if it becomes necessary. Failure to reach a new contract by 12:01 am on April 21st could lead to a strike of apartment building workers at over 3,200 apartment buildings citywide.
“Today’s strike vote shows we’re determined to keep our city a place that working families can afford to call home,” said Mike Fishman, President of 32BJ. “The hard working New Yorkers who keep our buildings running well, and New Yorkers safe and comfortable, should be able to live in the city where they work.”
The building service workers, who were joined at their meeting by City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, were the third group of workers to provide 32BJ’s bargaining committee with this power. Earlier this week, Queens and Brooklyn workers voted to authorize a strike.
“Our City’s economic downturn is no excuse to deprive hard-working people and their families of a fair wage or essential benefits,” said Speaker Christine Quinn. “More than 30,000 service workers keep our buildings clean, our tenants safe and our city running.”
Contract talks between 32BJ SEIU and the Realty Advisory Board (RAB), an industry association representing most building owners, began on March 9th. The contract covers doormen, superintendents, resident managers, porters, handymen and concierges at apartment buildings in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.
“Nobody wants a strike, but we’re committed to do what it takes to get workers what they need,” said Kyle Bragg, 32BJ Vice President. “Working families need wages that keep pace with the city’s high cost of living.”
Major issues include increasing wages to keep up with the rising cost of living, maintaining family health care and ensuring adequate funds for training and retirement. In an effort to lower building operating costs, the union is encouraging employers to increase participation in a new “Green Buildings” training program.
“We work hard every day so that we can pay the bills, give our kids an education, and maybe even buy a house,” said Upper East Side doorman Deon Fenton. “Isn’t that the American Dream?”
Under the current contract, New York City apartment building workers make on average $40,000 a year. In the four years since the last contract, the consumer price index (CPI) in the New York City area has jumped 11.3%. The cost of milk and other everyday items have gone up, in some cases by more than 10%.
“The cost of living here is going through the roof, and we are all feeling the pinch — rent, mortgage, groceries, gas, you name it,” said James Dempsey, the grounds keeper for a 15 building co-op in Chelsea.
Meanwhile, the value of residential real estate in the city has grown by 28% in the past four years.
“Despite the economic downturn, the New York real estate industry still boasts the lowest vacancy rate in the country and the highest average rent,” said Fishman. “This $584 billion industry has more than enough to provide the workers who maintain their buildings what they need to support their families.”
With more than 70,000 members in New York, 32BJ is the largest private sector union in the state. For more information, visit http://www.standwithbuildingworkers.org/press.
Contact:
Kwame Patterson: 212-388-3676; 312-371-2485
Matt Nerzig: 212-539-2882; 917-584-0787
