Bronx Building Workers Reach Deal With Landlords

Averting a strike, Bronx building workers, represented by 32BJ, reached an agreement with landlords. Here's an excerpt from the union's press release.

32BJ and the Bronx Realty Advisory Board (BRAB) reached a tentative four-year agreement this evening for more than 3,000 apartment building workers that provides 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.

The whole agreement can be downloaded from the union's web site here.

Bronx Building Workers Authorize Potential Strike

To followup on yesterday's post, the 32BJ SEIU chapter that represents thousands of building workers across the Bronx voted last night in favor of a potential strike if contract negotiations with the Bronx Realty Advisory Board, which represents Bronx building owners, are not resolved over the next few weeks.

“Nobody wants a strike, but we’re committed to do what it takes to get workers what they need,” said Union Vice President Kyle Bragg, in a statement. “Working families need wages that keep pace with the city’s high cost of living.”

32BJ SEIU represents superintendents, janitors, handypersons, porters, firepersons, doormen, elevator operators and garbage handlers. The workers already rejected a contract proposal which they say stripped them of health care and retirement benefits.

A press release said that a strike could take place if a contract is not approved by March 15.

Bronx Building Workers to Vote on Strike

A union that represents maintenance workers in buildings across the borough will hold a vote today to authorize a strike, if necessary, as it continues to negotiate a contract with the Bronx Realty Advisory Board, which represents the building owners.

The workers already rejected a contract proposal from management last week, saying cuts to health care and retirement benefits were unacceptable. A press release from the union threatened a strike if a contract is not agreed upon by March 15.

The 32BJ SEIU union represents more than 3,000 apartment building employees at over 1,000 residential buildings in the Bronx who work as supers, janitors, doormen, elevator operators and garbage handlers.

Remember the serious garbage pile-up during the Co-Op City workers' strike last summer? That one got dirty (literally). We'll keep you posted on this; the vote is set for this evening at 6:15.

32BJ Endorses Assembly Candidate Hector Ramirez

Hector Ramirez (center), pictured here talking with local residents in a Mount Hope bodega yesterday, has picked up several important endorsements

Here's a mini-exclusive: 32BJ SEIU, the largest private-sector union in the state, has endorsed Hector Ramirez in his race against Nelson Castro, the incumbent assemblyman in the 86th Assembly District.

In a statement, the union said the endorsement "follows an extensive membership-screening process, in which Ramirez received overwhelming support from members for his commitment to affordable housing, creating good jobs and economic development."

Mike Fishman, 32BJ's president, said in the same release: “Through his work in the community, Hector Ramirez has shown a strong commitment to working people. 32BJ is proud to get behind candidates like Ramirez who will make New York a state that works for working people.”

The union represents security officers, doormen, porters, maintenance workers, bus drivers, window cleaners and food service workers, among others.

Ramirez has also received endorsements from the Bronx Democratic Party, Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., the Working Families Party and others.

Another powerful union, 1199 SEIU, is also expected to back him.

We've been following this race closely and will have more in the coming days.

Gustavo Rivera Picks Up Union Support; Bronx BP Considering an Endorsement

Earlier today, two powerful labor unions, NY—1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East and 32BJ SEIU, released a joint statement announcing their endorsement of state Senate candidate Gustavo Rivera, who is running against State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr.

"With high membership density in the 33rd, both 1199 and 32BJ are making this race top priority for the primary and general elections," the statement said. "Both unions will soon be starting with direct mail, live phone calls and ground troops to mobilize union members on Rivera's behalf."

"Albany needs leaders who put the interests of working New Yorkers ahead of politics and power plays," said 32BJ President Mike Fishman in the statement. "As someone who pledges to uphold the high standards we should expect from our public servants, we are proud to support Gustavo Rivera."

Added George Gresham, President of 1199 SEIU: "Throughout his career, Gustavo has stood for integrity and the kind of progressive values that our members share. This district deserves honest leadership, and we believe Gustavo Rivera will be a true voice for reform rather than an obstacle for change."

Union support is seen as critical if Rivera is unseat Espada. 

As we mentioned earlier, Rivera (pictured above) and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. had scheduled a lunch meeting today at a restaurant in Kingsbridge to discuss Rivera's candidacy and his plans, if elected, for the 33rd District.

Co-op City Strike Ends

Maintenance workers in Co-op City are back at work today after a weeklong strike at the sprawling 35-building housing complex.

About 500 workers will return to their jobs while union officials continue to bargain with the buildings' management company, RiverBay Corporation, according to a statement released yesterday. The strike began last Tuesday after the workers' current contract expired, and union and management officials were at a standstill over wage and health care negotiations.

In the meantime, garbage piled up outside the massive complex, which houses some 50,000 residents.

"The men and women who keep Co-op City running deserve quality health care and a fair wage just as of Co-op City residents deserve top quality service and maintenance—not the mounting piles of garbage and reduced services that they’ve been forced to endure for the past week,” said Kyle Bragg, Vice President of the service employees local union 32BJ, in a press release.

The union claimed RiverBay had locked out workers from returning to their jobs just hours before they'd planned to go on strike. 

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. praised the end of the lockout and urged the management company to be "fair" in its negotiations with workers.

"As I said before, I expect the Riverbay Corporation to deal with the workers of Co-op City, offering them a fair contract, for both the good of those employees and their families and the continued well-being of the residents," Diaz said in a press release sent yesterday. "Today’s announcement is a good start, and I hope both parties will continue having serious and responsible contract talks."

Local Pols, Union Members Rally for Good Jobs

32BJ SEIU member Alba Vazquez at Monday's town hall meeting (Photos courtesy of 32BJ)

Alba Vazquez emigrated to America in 1977 from her native Uruguay, where a military dictatorship had seized power a few years prior. She settled in the Bronx with the hopes of building a safer, more prosperous life for her and her young family.

It wasn’t easy. Vazquez and her husband went their separate ways and she was stuck raising four children on her own. To make ends meet, she juggled three low-paying jobs. “It was awful, 18 hour days, no weekends, no vacation,” she said.

Ten years ago, however, Vazquez’s fortunes changed for the better when she landed a cleaning job at Madison Square Garden and became a member of 32BJ Service Employees International Union (SEIU). With a decent wage and benefits, she was able to provide for her loved ones.

“When I started to work at the Garden our lives changed completely,” said Vazquez, a softly spoken 53-year-old who lives on Hull Avenue near 204th Street.

Vasquez was speaking at a town hall meeting on Monday night at the Amalgamated Houses, a housing complex just south of Van Cortlandt Park. About 70 32BJ members had gathered to show their support for a City Council bill which would guarantee decent wages and benefits to cleaners, security guards, and other building service workers at new commercial and residential developments financed by city tax-dollars, and at buildings the city leases in the future.