Congratulations to all who worked hard on protecting worker rights to increased wages and health benefits. It was a very tense battle considering what’s been happening in Wisconsin, but it paid off.
This is a big victory for the working class families of the Bronx and all the hard workers who labor away just to make ends meet for their loved ones.
During these harsh and trying economic times, now is not the time to take away employer paid health benefits nor their secure pension funds. These are the people who collect our garbage, maintain our buildings and ensure that our homes are decent places to live in.
These building workers also deserve the chance not only to maintain their families but to be able to do what normal Americans do and that is to build up their savings for a better tomorrow.
Once again, thank you to all who worked on protecting our Bronx families and residents!
Image courtesy of: http://www.seiu.org/images/32BJ_DEjanitors.jpg
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32BJ of the SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 14, 2011
BRONX RESIDENTIAL WORKERS WIN NEW CONTRACT THAT RAISES WAGES, PROTECTS FAMILY HEALTHCARE –Borough-Wide Strike Averted–
–Workers Maintain Healthcare and Retirement Savings–
Bronx, NY – 32BJ and the Bronx Realty Advisory Board (BRAB) reached a tentative four-year agreement this evening that raises standards for more than 3,000 apartment building workers by providing annual wage increases while maintaining employer-paid family health care and secured pension benefits. The agreement narrowly averted a strike, which would have affected 250,000 Bronx residents throughout the borough including Riverdale and the South Bronx.
“Bronx workers stood together to make sure these jobs remained good jobs. Thousands of Bronx families will benefit from this contract, which provides much needed wage increases during this tough economy,” said Kyle Bragg, 32BJ Vice President. “We want to ensure workers can support their families and save for their futures.”
The tentative agreement provides a 6 percent wage increase. In addition, the agreement maintains employer paid family healthcare and pension benefits, which were sticking points during negotiations.
“We were able to keep what’s most important to our families, affordable healthcare and pensions,” said Angel Ortega, who is a father of five and a Riverdale super. “It was a tough few months, but we’re glad we didn’t inconvenience the residents and are eager to keep serving the Bronx.”
The new tentative contract covers more than 3,000 supers, assistant supers, janitors, handypersons, porters, firepersons, doormen, elevator operators and garbage handlers. This deal averts a strike that would have directly affected a quarter of a million New Yorkers living in over 1,000 apartment, condo and co-op buildings in the Bronx.
Bronx members of 32BJ will vote on ratifying the contract later this month.
With more than 70,000 members in New York, 32BJ is the largest private sector union in the state. For more information, visit www.standwithbuildingworkers.org .
SEIU Local 32BJ, 101 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10013-1906 United States
