Press Releases

New Haven Area Office Cleaners Ratify New Contract That Averted Strike

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32BJ of the SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Saturday, January 28, 2012

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Eugenio H. Villasante 646-286-1087

Maia Davis 201-396-4444

http://www.standwithbuildingworkers.org

NEW HAVEN AREA OFFICE CLEANERS RATIFY NEW CONTRACT THAT AVERTED STRIKE

- Union Members Approve Four-Year Contract That Protects Health Care and Gives Yearly Raises to Building Cleaners –

New Haven, CT – New Haven area office cleaners have ratified a new contract that averted a strike which potentially could have affected about two dozen corporateand government in the city in addition to 125 buildings in the Hartford area. Members voted unanimously over the weekend to approve an agreement that preserves healthcare coverage and raises wages over the four years by 13 percent. A separate contract for Hartford members that raised their wages 10 percent over four years was ratified on January 7.

“This is a fair agreement with modest wage increases that will help the cleaners in the New Haven. Our members are working two and three jobs to try and keep their headsabove water in one of the most expensive regions in the country,” said Kurt Westby, Connecticut State Director for 32BJ SEIU and chief negotiator for the union on this contract. “These hard-working men and women have stood up for the wages they need to support their families and our economy.”

32BJ represents a total of 2,000 building cleaners in the New Haven and Hartford areas. They clean nearly 150 buildings including some of Connecticut’s most important corporate centers and landmark buildings such as City Hall, Long Wharf Maritime Center, and One Century Tower and the State Capitol, Travelers’ Tower and Wesleyan University in Hartford.

Talks between the union and the Hartford Area Cleaning Contractors Association, which represents cleaning companies in both New Haven and Hartford, had begun in mid-November and concluded on the night of December 28th, barely three days before expiration. A breakthrough came after several leading elected officials, including New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, who urged both sides to find common ground and reach an agreement that was fair to workers.

“I was proud to stand with our hardworking building cleaners in their struggle for decent wages and benefits,” New Haven Mayor John DeStefano said. “I added my voice because as elected officials, we must show both labor and management that we expect a fair, mutual settlement that works for both sides. This contract does that.”

Other elected officials who had taken a public stand in support of the workers during the course of negotiations included Governor Dannel Malloy, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra, and U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro and John Larson, State Senator John Fonfara of Hartford, New Britain Mayor Tim O’Brien, and Hartford City Council Members Larry Deutsch, Luis Cotto and Cynthia Jennings.

 

 

With more than 120,000 members in eight states and Washington, D.C., including 4,500 in Connecticut, 32BJ SEIU is the largest union of property service workers in the country.

Suburban Cleaners Ratify New 4-Yr Contracts for 1,200 Workers

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32BJ of the SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Julie Karant: 646-584-9001

Eugenio H. Villasante: 646-285-1087

http://www.standwithbuildingworkers.org

SUBURBAN OFFICE CLEANERS RATIFY NEW 4-YEAR CONTRACT IMPROVING WAGES FOR 1,200 WORKERS

Contract to Help Boost Economy and Ensure Quality Service for Tenants

Norristown, PA – Commercial office cleaners in suburban Philadelphia have voted overwhelmingly to ratify new four-year contract covering 1,200 workers that provides cleaners with an average yearly wage increase of over 3.6%.

“This contract will help 1,200 office cleaners in suburban Philly continue to move out of poverty and have a chance at the American Dream,” said Wayne MacManiman, 32BJ Mid-Atlantic Director. “These hard-working men and women have stood up for the wages they need to support their families and our economy.”

Over the next four years, cleaners will see their average yearly pay increase from $10.80 per hour to $12.35 per hour.

Negotiations for a new contract covering more than 1,200 commercial office cleaners in suburban Philadelphia began on November 30th between 32BJ and leaders representing companies including Shellville Facility Services, Allan Industries, Inc. and Interstate Building Maintenance Corporation.

Cleaners authorized their union’s bargaining committee to call a strike, if necessary if an agreement wasn’t reached by January 16th at 12:01AM.

More than 60,000 property service workers from Hartford, Conn., to Virginia have secured new contracts that raise wage and benefit standards.

With more than 120,000 members in nine states, including 10,000 in the Philadelphia area, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property services union in the country.

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New Jersey Building Cleaners Ratify Contract Protecting 7,000 Good Jobs

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32BJ of the SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION

 

For More Information:

Maia Davis:  201-396-4444

Eugenio Villasante: 212-539-2940

 

For Immediate Release:

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

NEW JERSEY BUILDING CLEANERS RATIFY NEW FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT PROTECTING 7,000 GOOD JOBS

‪-  Improved Wages Will Help Working Families and the State’s Economy -

Newark, N.J.  —New Jersey’s office building cleaners have ratified a new four-year contract that protects the healthcare coverage of more than 7,000 workers and raises their wages by 13 percent over the life of the contract. The ratification votes came in meetings at 10 locations around the state, from Paterson to Morristown to Trenton, with the last in Newark and Jersey City this afternoon. Building cleaners at all  the meetings overwhelmingly approved an agreement reached December 27th between the 32BJ Bargaining Committee and the New Jersey Contractors Association, which represents building cleaning companies.

“This new contract is an important victory not just for New Jersey building cleaners and their families, but also for our economy and our state,” said Kevin Brown, New Jersey State Director for 32BJ. “By raising wages and preserving healthcare coverage, this agreement helps thousands of working families stay on a path out of poverty and keeps our economy on the road to recovery. When working families have more income, they buy more, the economy churns more, and the quality of working families’ lives improves.”

Building cleaners represented by 32BJ clean more than 400 office buildings around the state, including prominent properties along the Hudson waterfront and in Newark. Major owners of commercial buildings cleaned by 32BJ members include high-profile companies such as Hartz Mountain, Johnson & Johnson, and Merck. Cleaning contractors include some of the biggest in the nation and the state, such as American Building Maintenance (ABM), Allan Industries and CRS Facility Services.

“These are the kind of good jobs that New Jersey needs to help families and ensure our state’s future prosperity,” said Larry Engelstein, 32BJ Assistant to the President. “This contract shows what working people can achieve when they stand together for fair treatment and decent wages.”

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With more than 120,000 members in eight states and Washington, D.C., including 9,000 in New Jersey, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property services union in the country.

For more information, visit www.StandWithBuildingWorkers.org

New Contract for 1,200 Office Cleaners in Philly Suburbs Secures Wage Increases for Next Four Years

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32BJ of the SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Monday, January 9, 2012

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Julie Karant: 646-584-9001

Eugenio H. Villasante: 646-285-1087

http://www.standwithbuildingworkers.org

 

NEW CONTRACT FOR 1,200 OFFICE CLEANERS SECURES WAGE INCREASES FOR NEXT FOUR YEARS

Strike Averted before Expiration

Norristown, PA – The 32BJ SEIU Bargaining Committee has announced a tentative agreement on a four-year contract, subject to ratification, covering 1,200 commercial office cleaners in suburban Philadelphia that provides cleaners with an average yearly wage increase of over 3.6%. Union members must still ratify the tentative agreements.

“This is a win-win agreement that benefits businesses, workers and tenants alike,” said Wayne MacManiman, 32BJ Mid-Atlantic Director. “Helping hard-working men and women better support their families and their communities is a critical step towards our economic recovery.”

Over the next four years, cleaners will see their average yearly pay increase from $10.80 per hour to $12.35 per hour.

Negotiations for a new contract covering more than 1,200 commercial office cleaners in suburban Philadelphia began on November 30th between 32BJ and leaders representing companies including Shellville Facility Services, Allan Industries, Inc. and Interstate Building Maintenance Corporation.

Cleaners authorized their union’s bargaining committee to call a strike, if necessary if an agreement wasn’t reached by January 16th at 12:01AM.

More than 60,000 property service workers from Hartford, Conn., to Virginia have secured new contracts that raise wage and benefit standards.

With more than 120,000 members in nine states, including 10,000 in the Philadelphia area, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property services union in the country.

 

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Hudson Valley and Fairfield County Office Cleaners Ratify New Contract

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32BJ of the SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

  Kwame Patterson 212-388-3676

  Matt Nerzig               212-539-2882

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Monday, January 9, 2012

HUDSON VALLEY & FAIRFIELD COUNTY OFFICE CLEANERS RATIFY NEW CONTRACT

 - Union Members Approve Four-Year Contract That Gives Yearly Raises to Building Cleaners -

White Plains, NY —Office building cleaners from Hudson Valley in New York and Fairfield County in Connecticut have ratified a four-year agreement that provides a nearly 13% wage increase over the life of the agreement. The new contract also provides affordable health care coverage and increases the number of full-time job opportunities.

“Our members are working two and three jobs to try and keep their heads above water in one of the most expensive regions in the country,” said John Santos, 32BJ Hudson Valley Regional Director. “This contract will help them support their families, and contribute to the growth of the economy.”

“This is a fair agreement with modest wage increases that will help the 3,300 building cleaners in the area continue to move out of poverty and have a chance at the American Dream,” said Kurt Westby, Connecticut State Director for 32BJ SEIU.

Members voted unanimously over the weekend to approve the agreement. The new four-year contract – which is between 32BJ and area cleaning contractors such as American Building Maintenance (ABM), A & A Maintenance, and Temco – is set to expire in 2015.

32BJ members clean prominent buildings in Fairfield County including the University of Connecticut, the UBS Building, the RBS Building, Norwalk Community College and Fairfield University. In Hudson Valley, the list includes the Morgan Stanley Building and both the Galleria and Westchester Malls.

There are approximately 1,700 commercial cleaners in Hudson Valley and more than 1,500 in Fairfield County. Employers, building owners and managers began negotiations with the union in early November.

With more than 120,000 members unionwide and over 5,800 living in Hudson Valley and Fairfield combined, 32BJ is the largest property services union in the country. For more information, visit www.standwithbuildingworkers.org .

Hartford Area Office Cleaners Ratify New Contract That Averted Strike

Posted on

32BJ of the Service Employees International Union

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Maia Davis:  212-388-3696; 201-396-4444

Eugenio Villasante: 212-539-2940

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Monday, January 9, 2012

 

HARTFORD AREA OFFICE CLEANERS RATIFY NEW CONTRACT THAT AVERTED STRIKE

 - Union Members Approve Four-Year Contract That Protects Health Care and Gives Yearly Raises to Building Cleaners  -

Hartford CT– Hartford area office cleaners have ratified a new contract that averted a strike which potentially could have affected 125 corporate, government and university buildings in the city and its suburbs. Members voted unanimously over the weekend to approve an agreement that preserves healthcare coverage and raises wages over the four years by 10 percent. A separate contract for New Haven members that would raise their wages 13 percent over four years is scheduled for a ratification vote on January 21.

“This is a fair agreement with modest wage increases that will help the 1,600 building cleaners in the Hartford area continue to move out of poverty and have a chance at the American Dream,” said Kurt Westby, Connecticut State Director for 32BJ SEIU and chief negotiator for the union on this contract. “Our members are struggling to meet essential expenses for housing, heating bills, food and transportation. This contract will help them to meet those expenses, support their families, and contribute to the growth of Connecticut’s economy.”

32BJ represents a total of 2,000 building cleaners in the Hartford and New Haven areas. They clean nearly 150 buildings including some of Connecticut’s most important corporate centers and landmark buildings such as the State Capitol, Travelers’ Tower and Wesleyan University. In New Haven, the list includes City Hall, Long Wharf Maritime Center, and One Century Tower.

Talks between the union and the Hartford Area Cleaning Contractors Association, which represents cleaning companies in both Hartford and New Haven, had begun in mid-November and concluded on the night of December 28th, barely three days before expiration. A breakthrough came after several leading elected officials urged both sides to find common ground and reach an agreement that was fair to workers. They were: Governor Dannel Malloy, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra, and U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro and John Larson. Other elected officials who had taken a public stand in support of the workers during the course of negotiations included: State Senator John Fonfara of Hartford, New Haven Mayor John DeStefano, New Britain Mayor Tim O’Brien, and Hartford City Council Members Larry Deutsch, Luis Cotto and Cynthia Jennings.

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With more than 120,000 members in eight states and Washington, D.C., including 4,500 in Connecticut, 32BJ SEIU is the largest union of property service workers in the country.

Tentative Agreement Reached in NYC!

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, December 30, 2011

NEW YEAR’S STRIKE AVERTED; NYC OFFICE CLEANERS REACH NEW CONTRACT PROTECTING MORE THAN 22,000 GOOD JOBS

– New 4-Year Contract Provides Raises and Maintains Healthcare and Other Key Benefits –

New York, NY — The 32BJ Bargaining Committee tonight announced a tentative agreement with the Realty Advisory Board (RAB) on a four-year contract covering more than 22,000 New York City office cleaners that provides a nearly 5.6% wage increase over the life of the contract and bonuses totaling $1,100.00. The agreement, which must still be ratified, maintains fully employer-paid family health care coverage.

“The new contract is not just an important victory for office cleaners and their families, but for our economy and our city,” said Hector Figueroa, Secretary-Treasurer of 32BJ. “In these tough times the workers who keep New York City’s corporate offices and landmark buildings clean and well maintained have stood up for the good middle class jobs our economy and our city needs.”

New York City office building workers clean and maintain major buildings and locations including the Rockefeller Center, the MetLife Building, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, Grand Central Station, Port Authority, and the Time Warner Center.

“I am happy with this agreement,” said Ivan Almendarez who is a cleaner at New York University. “Keeping my healthcare and getting wage increases will go a long way toward helping me raise my kids and take care of my ailing wife.”

In the last three months, 32BJ has reached new, multiyear contracts for more than 50,000 workers from Hartford, CT to Northern Virginia in a regionwide campaign to promote good jobs and stronger communities.

“Good jobs are essential to rebuilding the middle class and strengthening our economic recovery,” said President Fishman. “From the outset, this regionwide contract campaign has been part of a nationwide effort to protect the good jobs working people need to support their families and our cities’ need to get back on track.”

The agreement also calls for the establishment of a joint 32BJ-real estate industry project to promote economic development and good jobs. The project, which will be guided by directors from both 32BJ and the real estate industry, will explore ways for the union and the industry to work together to advance robust and responsible development in New York City.

With more than 120,000 members, including 70,000 in New York, 32BJ is the largest property service workers union in the country and the largest private-sector union in the state. For more information, visit www.StandWithBuildingWorkers.org

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Janitors in More Than 12 Cities Across the Country Pledge Support to NYC Cleaners

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Service Employees International Union

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:       

Thursday, December 29, 2011  

 

CONTACT: Renee Asher, 202-355-8318

 

As Jan. 1 Strike Deadline Looms…
Janitors in More Than 12 Cities Across the Country Pledge Support to NYC Cleaners

NEW YORK, NY— As a contract deadline looms in New York City for 22,000 office cleaners represented by SEIU 32BJ, janitors in more than12 cities across the country including Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston and Los Angles have pledged to honor picket lines should the strike spread outside of New York City.

Cleaners in New York City represented by SEIU32BJ could strike as soon as January 1st if a deal is not reached with New York City’s $20 billion real estate industry.

The showdown comes in the midst of wide-scale public protests over income inequality between the very wealthy and the rest of the country and a debate about what kind of country we will become if income disparity continues to widen.  While corporate executives are making record amounts, income for 95 percent of American households has either stayed the same or fallen since 1970, threatening to make the middle class the great disappearing act of the 21st century.

Janitors in Northern Virginia, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Chicago, Orange County, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, Boston, Seattle, Minneapolis and Sacramento have all signed petitions stating their intention to honor picket lines should the strike spread to their buildings.

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New York Labor Leaders Offer Strike Support For 32BJ

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Ginger Otis: 212-604-9552/ 917-346-3391

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Thursday, December 29, 2011

NEW YORK LABOR LEADERS OFFER STRIKE SUPPORT FOR 32BJ
-Unions stand together to fight for a fair contract-

When: Thursday, December 29, @ 11 a.m.

Where: Steps of City Hall

Who:    State and City union leaders from all sectors

 

Only two days remain before the contract covering 22,000 building service workers in New York City expires. If the clock runs out at midnight on Dec. 31, 2011 without a fair and equitable deal in place for hardworking 32BJ members, New York’s labor community is prepared to back them in a strike.

“The resources of the 2 ½ million member New York State AFL-CIO are at the full disposal of 32 BJ for as long as it takes to reach a contract agreement.  With 3,000 local union affiliates across the state, we will stand side by side with our 32 BJ brothers and sisters throughout these negotiations. This is not just about what happens in the next few days.  These negotiations are about the future of our city, and what kind of city we want to leave to the next generation,” says Mario Cilento, President of NY State AFL-CIO.

The top rate of a commercial cleaner in NYC is $22.65 an hour, or $47,000 a year, but building owners still say workers are earning too much. The real estate industry wants to rollback salary and benefit packages, while it’s recorded billions in sales activity this year alone.

“Whether it’s for a private sector union like 32 BJ, or a public sector or building trades union, the New York City Central Labor Council is always going to stand up for fair wages and contracts,” says Vincent Alvarez, President of the NYC CLC. “The labor community is committed to working together to fight for fairness in the workplace and protecting the wages and benefits of the hardworking men and women of New York City.”

 

 

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The NYC Central Labor Council is a non-profit representing 1.3 million unionized workers citywide.

Janitors in More Than 12 Cities Across the Country Pledge Support to NYC Cleaners

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NEW YORK, NY— As a contract deadline looms in New York City for 22,000 office cleaners represented by SEIU 32BJ, janitors in more than 12 cities across the country including Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston and Los Angles have pledged to honor picket lines should the strike spread outside of New York City.

Cleaners in New York City represented by SEIU32BJ could strike as soon as January 1st if a deal is not reached with New York City’s $20 billion real estate industry.

The showdown comes in the midst of wide-scale public protests over income inequality between the very wealthy and the rest of the country and a debate about what kind of country we will become if income disparity continues to widen. While corporate executives are making record amounts, income for 95 percent of American households has either stayed the same or fallen since 1970, threatening to make the middle class the great disappearing act of the 21st century.

Janitors in Northern Virginia, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Chicago, Orange County, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, Boston, Seattle, Minneapolis and Sacramento have all signed petitions stating their intention to honor picket lines should the strike spread to their buildings.
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