–More than 22,000 Workers at 1,500 Office Buildings Could Strike When Contract Expires Dec. 31st—
–Major buildings include the Rockefeller Center, the Met Life Building, the Empire State Building and the Time-Warner Center —
New York, NY – December 14, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Thousands of New York City office cleaners and other commercial building workers marched and rallied through the streets of Midtown Manhattan today during rush hour to demand a fair contract from the Realty Advisory Board, an industry association representing most building owners. With only two weeks left until a possible citywide strike, 32BJ SEIU and the RAB remain far apart on any new agreement.
“The workers who keep office buildings clean and running well should be able to make ends meet in our city,” said Mike Fishman, President of 32BJ. “This is about more than just getting a new contract for them; it’s about keeping our city a place that working families can afford to call home.”
The contract, which covers more than 22,000 office cleaners and building service workers, expires at 12:01 a.m., January 1. Contract talks between 32BJ and the RAB began on November 15th and resume tomorrow, Thursday, December 15th.
“The future of the middle class in our city depends on preserving good jobs and stopping the race to the bottom on wages and benefits,” said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio who attended the rally. “The 22,000 commercial office cleaners deserve a fair contract, not rollbacks that risk throwing them into economic insecurity. I urge the Realty Advisory Board to negotiate in good faith towards a contract that preserves this vital industry’s quality jobs.”
The union seeks to preserve good jobs with wages that keep pace with the cost of living, as well as maintain benefits such as affordable healthcare and sick days. The top rate for commercial office cleaners represented by 32BJ is $22.65 an hour or $47,000 annually, significantly less than the household income that independent researchers have shown is necessary to support a family of four in New York City.
In response, the RAB wants to establish a two-tier wage and benefit structure for new hires, aimed at creating a lower-paid second class of workers, as well as other measures that would make it harder for current and new workers to make ends meet in New York City.
Meanwhile, the $20 billion Manhattan commercial real estate industry has just experienced its busiest third quarter in three years — with sales activity reaching $6.3 billion, according to Crain’s. That puts 2011 on track to be the third highest total-sales year on record, surpassed only by the boom years of 2006 and 2007. In addition, there have been six straight quarters of rental gains with top quality buildings up 10.7 percent in the past 12 months, according to CoStar.
On December 1st, thousands of New York City office cleaners and commercial building workers voted to authorize their bargaining committee to call a strike if necessary. Failure to reach a new contract by 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2012 could lead to a strike of more than 22,000 office cleaners at over 1,500 commercial office buildings citywide.
“Nobody wants a strike, but we’re ready to fight to get what we need for our families and for the families of all working people in New York,” said Anna Dziubek, a cleaner who works at an office building in downtown Manhattan.
With more than 120,000 members, 32BJ is the largest property service workers union in the country. For more information, visit www.standwithbuildingworkers.org.
Contact:
Kwame Patterson, 312-371-2485
Matt Nerzig, 917-584-0787
