Serrano: “Bronx Building Worker Resolution Very Positive”

Here is a press release from U.S. Congressman Serrano on the amicable resolution to the building workers new four year agreement. Congressman Serrano was a vocal advocate of the building workers during negotiations.

Gregory
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March 15, 2011 – Washington, DC – Upon receiving word that the Bronx building workers had reached a new four-year contract, Congressman José E. Serrano said he was “gratified” and “heartened” by the situation’s resolution.

“The Bronx building workers, and 32BJ stood up for themselves and their working conditions, and through their strong position, they have reached a fair and equitable new agreement,” said Congressman Serrano. “I commend them for their efforts and also must commend the Bronx Realty Advisory Board for their role in forging this agreement. Many working families will benefit from the modest wage increase—and will stay protected by the health care provisions. This is a fair deal for these workers and their families.

“With worker’s rights under attack across the nation, it is particularly heartening to know that we can have positive outcomes for our working families. Too often we are being told that the troubled economy means that we must slash the benefits and wages of the workers, while there is simultaneously no money for the government services that they need as well. That toxic combination only serves to push families down the economic ladder. Instead, in this agreement we are seeing a commitment to workers that should be followed around the nation.”

BRONX RESIDENTIAL WORKERS WIN NEW CONTRACT THAT RAISES WAGES, PROTECTS FAMILY HEALTHCARE

Here is the verdict on the pending building workers strike. The building workers saved their benefits and will receive a tentative 6 percent pay increase. From the wording below I assume the 6 percent pay increase would be over a 4 year period. If lucky the pay increase would keep up with the rate of inflation.

Gregory
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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 .

Update on 32BJ Pending Strike

Here is the latest from 32BJ as per the pending Bronx building workers strike.

Gregory
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"With less than 24 hours to go before a potential strike on a quarter of a million Bronx residents, 32BJ and the Bronx Realty Advisory Board have started round the clock negotiations today in hopes of reaching a fair deal."

AS BRONX STRIKE LOOMS, APARTMENT BUILDING WORKERS RALLY FOR A FAIR CONTRACT

Here is more on the apartment building workers rally and possible strike set for March 15th, with comments from U.S. Congressman Serrano.

Gregory
*******

AS BRONX STRIKE LOOMS, APARTMENT BUILDING WORKERS RALLY FOR A FAIR CONTRACT
-- Thousands of Bronx Workers Could Walk Off the Job on March 15th—
--Strike Would Affect Close to a Quarter of a Million New Yorkers—
New York, NY—With a potential strike less than a week away, hundreds of apartment building workers, along with elected officials and community and union supporters, rallied today in the Bronx to call on the Bronx Realty Advisory Board (BRAB), an industry association representing building owners, to sign a fair agreement before their contract expires at 12:01 A.M. on March 15th.
“The workers who keep Bronx apartment buildings running and residents safe should be able to make ends meet,” said Kyle Bragg, 32BJ Vice President. “Today’s rally is about more than a new contract, it’s about pushing for good, middle class jobs for New York’s working families.”
The contract covers more than 3,000 superintendents, assistant superintendents, janitors, handypersons, porters, firepersons, doormen, elevator operators and garbage handlers working in over 1,000 residential buildings throughout the Bronx. Talks between 32BJ and BRAB have been underway since early February, and several issues, including health care and retirement savings remain, outstanding. The BRAB’s demands would make health care and retiring with dignity unaffordable for workers.
“I wholeheartedly support the union members in my district fighting against these punishing cuts; and I urge all parties involved to find a swift resolution that does not ask working families to make unreasonable sacrifices because of a fragile economy," said Congressman Jose E. Serrano. "New York’s housing and real estate market will recover, but the healthcare and retirement owed to these workers will never recover from the cuts proposed here.”
Workers are looking to maintain their benefits as well as moderate, cost of living wage increases. Under the current contract, the average Bronx apartment building workers’ wages range from $15.53/hr in the South Bronx to $17.07/hr in Riverdale, and they receive employer-paid family health care, pension and training in addition to vacation and sick leave.
“Supporting two kids on my own is tough,” said Jesus Cosme who is a widower and 20-year maintenance man in the South Bronx. “I need to keep my retirement benefits for their future and affordable healthcare for their wellbeing.”
Failure to reach an agreement before the March 15th expiration could lead to a strike directly affecting nearly 250,000 New Yorkers living in over 1,000 apartment, condo and co-op buildings in the Bronx.
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.

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AS STRIKE LOOMS, BRONX APARTMENT BUILDING WORKERS TO RALLY

Here is more on the possible strike and rally set for tomorrow.

Gregory
*******

AS STRIKE LOOMS, BRONX APARTMENT BUILDING WORKERS TO RALLY
-- Thousands of Bronx Workers Could Walk Off the Job on March 15th--
New York, NY—With a potential strike less than a week away, apartment building workers will march and rally in the Bronx to call on the Bronx Realty Advisory Board (BRAB), an industry association representing building owners, to sign a fair agreement before their contract expires at 12:01 A.M. on March 15th.
Contract negotiations between 32BJ SEIU, the union representing the workers, and BRAB have been underway since early February, and several issues, including health care and retirement savings remain, outstanding. The current contract covers building superintendents, janitors, handypersons, porters, firepersons, doormen, elevator operators and garbage handlers. Failure to reach a new contract could trigger a strike of more than 3,000 apartment building workers at over 1,000 residential buildings throughout the Bronx.
WHAT: Bronx Apartment Building Workers Rally for New Contract

WHO: --Thousands of apartment building workers
--32BJ Vice President Kyle Bragg
--Congressman José E. Serrano
--State Senator Jeffrey Klein
--Assembly members Carl Heastie, Vanessa Gibson
--Council members Larry Seabrook, Fernando Cabrera
--Community supporters

WHEN: Thursday, March10, 2011 at 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Franz Segal Park in the Bronx @ 153rd Street & Grand Concourse
Take 2, 4, 5 train to 149th Street -- Grand Concourse

With more than 120,000 members, 32BJ is the largest property service workers union in the country. For more information, visit www.standwithbuildingworkers.org .

Strike Vote Moves Bronx Apartment Building Workers One Step Closer to a Work Stoppage

Here is a press release sent by Local 32BJ about the pending strike by Bronx building workers. Will it come down to the building workers paying for the housing mess created by others? Are the workers making between $15 and $17 an hour, the ones who should be stripped of benefits? Are the building owners at a crucial tipping point that somehow needs to be addressed? How will rents and maintenance fees be affected? This is a serious issue that needs to be examined and resolved. If not, over 3,000 Bronx apartment building workers and over 1,000 residential buildings in our borough alone will be affected by this potential strike.

Gregory

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Strike Vote Moves Bronx Apartment Building Workers One Step Closer to a Work Stoppage
– Strike of up to 3,000 Workers Could Directly Affect Nearly a Quarter of a Million New Yorkers –
--Vote Comes Days After Workers Reject Management’s Unfair Contract Proposal—
New York, NY— As their contract’s expiration approaches, Bronx building workers voted Wednesday to authorize a strike, if necessary, to protect good jobs throughout the borough. Failure to reach a new contract agreement by the March 15th deadline could lead to a strike of more than 3,000 Bronx apartment building workers at over 1,000 residential buildings.
“Undercutting the livelihoods of building workers not only hurts their families and our communities but could deny hundreds of thousands of tenants the services they depend on,” said Kyle Bragg, Vice President of 32BJ. “This strike vote shows we’re determined to keep the Bronx a place that working families can still afford to call home.”
Tonight’s vote came one week after workers rejected an unfair contract proposal by the Bronx Realty Advisory Board (BRAB), a real estate industry association representing Bronx building owners. The BRAB is seeking to strip away much needed benefits from these hard working men and women.
Contract negotiations between 32BJ SEIU and BRAB have been underway since February 8th, and several issues, including family health care and retirement savings, remain outstanding. The contract covers building superintendents, janitors, handypersons, porters, firepersons, doormen, elevator operators and garbage handlers.
“Nobody wants a strike, but we’re committed to do what it takes to get workers what they need,” said Bragg, “Working families need wages that keep pace with the city’s high cost of living.”
Workers are looking to maintain their benefits as well as moderate, cost of living wage increases. Under the current contract, the average Bronx apartment building workers’ wages range from $15.53/hr in the South Bronx to $17.07/hr in Riverdale, and they receive employer-paid family health care, pension and training in addition to vacation and sick leave.
“I voted yes for my family and for the families of all working people,” said Darryl Mosley, a Bronx doorman and father of two. “I feel like we’re being pushed out of the city with the rising cost of rents, mortgages, groceries, the subway, gas, you name it.”
Failure to reach an agreement, before the March 15th expiration, could lead to a strike directly affecting nearly 250,000 New Yorkers living in over 1,000 apartment, condo and co-op buildings in the Bronx.
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.
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