The following statement is attributable to Mike Fishman, President of 32BJ SEIU:
November 22, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — “The contract proposals made today by the city’s major building owners on a new contract for 22,000 of the city’s commercial office cleaners are an aggressive attempt to rollback wage and benefit standards that working men and women depend on to support their families. In particular, proposals for establishing a two-tier staff structure, aimed at creating a lower second class of workers, and for placing restrictions on the political action of union members are unacceptable.”
“At a time when the $20 billion commercial real estate industry is returning to form, the men and women who keep office buildings clean should get the wages and benefits they need to support their families in the most expensive city in the country. Demanding cuts from a workforce that is barely making ends meet is wrong, economically unjustifiable and unacceptable.”
“In the best interests of the real estate industry, its tenants and workers, we call on the city’s major building owners to demonstrate responsible leadership by returning to the table with a fair contract proposal.”
Contact:
Matt Nerzig, 32BJ: 212-539-2882
