– Deal Locks in Improved Benefits and Professional Training –
New York, NY – April 13, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — Private security officers who protect many city commercial buildings—including Rockefeller Center—have voted unanimously to ratify a new four-year contract that protects workers’ family health care and increases wages.
“In a difficult economy, we won a strong contract with wage increases in every year of the agreement while maintaining quality health coverage for our members and their families,” SEIU 32BJ Secretary-Treasurer Hector Figueroa said. “This settlement maintains good jobs for working New Yorkers to strengthen our communities.”
SEIU 32BJ reached agreement on the new deal on March 28 with the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations, which represents major building owners like Tishman Speyer, the Rockefeller Group, Silverstein Properties, the Durst Organization and Vornado Realty Trust.
“I am very happy with strides we made in this contract,” said Rushon Miller, a member of the bargaining team who is a security officer for Royal Realty at the Bank of America Tower at 1111 6th Avenue. “Not only am I happy with the pay increases—we got an increase in each year of this contract—the 401k plan was improved and we were also able to get a personal day.”
32BJ represents more than 10,000 security officers who protect commercial office buildings, higher education facilities, government facilities, museums, libraries and stadiums. Members of the union protect other high profile sites in the city, including the Statue of Liberty, the Chrysler Building, Rockefeller Center, Yankee Stadium, Fordham and Columbia Universities, all three of New York City area airports, the George Washington Bridge, the World Trade Center and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
“From the beginning, 32BJ has worked to alleviate the poverty wages and minimal training standards that have long plagued this industry,” Figueroa said. “Renewing strong contracts for security officers who are members of our union goes hand-in-hand with continuing to work with non-union security officers to create a path so they could lift themselves out of poverty.”
With more than 120,000 members in eight states and Washington D.C., including 70,000 in the New York area, 32BJ is the largest property services union in the country.
Contact:
Michael O. Allen, 212-388-3805; 917-494-6197
Maia Davis, 212-388-3696
