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.

Imperiled Cemetery Workers Say They Have Tapes

Editor's Note: This story first appeared in the most recent issue of the Norwood News, which is on the streets and online now.

Workers at Woodlawn Cemetery protest proposed layoffs. (Photo by David Greene)

By DAVID GREENE

Defiant Woodlawn Cemetery workers and their supporters recently held a boisterous rally to protest the outsourcing of 23 of the cemetery’s 38 caretaker jobs. Cemetery officials say the outsourcing is a necessary cost-cutting move, but workers claim it’s payback for publicizing their concerns about discriminatory practices among supervisors.

Now, in an attempt to save their jobs, workers are exploring all options, including legal action and the possible airing of tapes that they say expose discriminatory practices among cemetery supervisors.

“We have evidence to show and prove some of the discriminatory practices and documentation of grievances,” said one worker who requested anonymity because he feared retribution. The worker said the tapes in their possession could put management in a bad light.

Over the summer, after it hired a firm to investigate workers’ discrimination charges, the cemetery fired at least one supervisor and acknowledged that it needed to change its training practices. But minority employees said little had changed and the practices were continuing.

Workers were back protesting at the cemetery on Sunday, Jan. 16. Many of the union supporters in attendance were wearing shirts with photos of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., using their day off to protest on the birthday of the slain Civil Rights leader.

New Issue of the Tremont Tribune

June's edition of the Tremont Tribune is on the streets and online now. Here are some of the stories featured in this month's issue:

• A longtime dispute between St. Barnabas hospital and its resident doctors may be coming to an end, as the National Labor Relations Board approved a vote for residents to form a union.

• County Democrats are backing district leader Eric Stevenson to fill the seat now occupied by Michael Benjamin, who announced last month that he wouldn't seek re-election (he also recently ditched plans to make a run for Congress).

• A group of home care workers--whose company runs eight locations in the Bronx--are attempting to unionize, despite resistance from their employer. 

• Belmont resident Marie Riolo was honored by Bronx politicians this month for her decades of volunteer work and community service. 

• We interviewed Julio Velez, Captain of the 48th Precinct's Auxiliary Police, a volunteer patrol unit of the NYPD. 

For more, pick up a copy of the Tribune or visit www.tremonttribune.org. And don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more updates!