Kevin Brown
Maia Davis
mdavis@seiu32bj.org
Newark Office
1 Washington Park, 12th Floor, Suite #1203
Newark NJ 07102
973-824-3225
 |
CONTRACT EXPIRES JANUARY 1, 2012 AT 12:01 AM
More than 7,000 commercial building workers in New Jersey are represented by 32BJ. The current contract between 32BJ and New Jersey contractors expires at 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2012. With more than 120,000 members, including 8,500 in New Jersey, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property services local in the country.
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.”
# # #
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
The tentative 4-year contract includes:
Pay raises averaging 13% statewide and new rates for 300 members in South Jersey.
Ratification votes will be on:
Elizabeth 12 Noon
St. Mary of the Assumption
155 Washington Avenue, Basement
Elizabeth, NJ
Morristown 2pm
Morristown Neighborhood Center
12 Flager Street
Morristown, NJ
New Brunswick 1 pm
Christ Church
5 Paterson Street, St. Nicholas Room
New Brunswick, NJ
Paterson 4pm
Paterson Museum
2 Market Street
Paterson, NJ
Perth Amboy 1:30 pm
Our Lady of Fatima Church
380 Smith Street
Perth Amboy, NJ
Plainfield 5:30pm
Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church
716 Watchung Avenue, Assembly Room 1
Plainfield, NJ
Red Bank 10am
St. Anthony of Padua
121 Bridge Avenue
Red Bank, NJ
Trenton 3pm
Mercer County Community College
North Road & Academy Street, Room KC223
Trenton, NJ
Jersey City 3 pm
Grace Church Van Vorst
39 Erie Street, Gymnasium
Jersey City, NJ
Newark 3 pm
The Newark Public Library
5 Washington Street (Auditorium 4FL)
Newark, NJ
32BJ Service Employees International Union
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Maia Davis: 201-396-4444
Michael O. Allen: (o) 212-388-3805;
(c) 917-494-6197
www.standwithbuildingworkers.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 29, 2011
NEW JERSEY OFFICE CLEANERS RALLY TO CELEBRATE NEW CONTRACT AND IN SOLIDARITY WITH NEW YORK CITY CLEANERS
- Their Battle Won, New Jersey Cleaners Rally in Support of Compatriots Across the River -
Jersey City, NJ – New Jersey cleaners, joined by top New Jersey elected leaders, will rally today in Jersey City to celebrate their new contract and in support of cleaners in New York City’s commercial buildings who are on the verge of a strike.
After an epic day of bargaining on Tuesday, the 32BJ SEIU Bargaining Committee won for 7,000 New Jersey office building cleaners a new four-year contract that increases pay by more than 10 percent and maintains health care coverage.
In New York City, 22,000 building cleaners face the prospect of a citywide strike as bargaining stretches close to the midnight hour on December 31, when the current contract expires.
WHAT: New Jersey Workers Support NYC Cleaners
WHO: 500 New Jersey Office Cleaners; Hudson County Executive Tom
DeGise; Hudson County Freeholder Chairman Bill O’Dea; District 31
Assemblyman Jason O’Donnell; District 31 Assemblyman Charles
Mainor; and Jersey City Councilmember-elect Rolando R. Lavarro Jr.
WHEN: 4:00PM on Thursday, December, 29, 2011
WHERE: 101 Hudson Street (Corner of Montgomery & Hudson St), Jersey City
With 120,000 members in eight states, including 9,000 in New Jersey, 32BJ is the largest property service union in the country and one of the fastest-growing in the state.
# # #
32BJ of the SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Maia Davis: 201-396-4444
mdavis@seiu32bj.org
Michael Allen: 212-388-3805
mallen@seiu32bj.org
www.standwithbuildingworkers.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
SEVEN THOUSAND NEW JERSEY OFFICE CLEANERS WIN NEW CONTRACT WITH PAY RAISES
- Strike Averted Four Days Before Contract Expiration-
Newark, NJ – The 32BJ SEIU Bargaining Committee has announced tentative agreement for a four-year contract covering 7,000 office building cleaners around New Jersey. If ratified, the wages of building cleaners represented by 32BJ would increase each year over the four years covered by the contract.
“This agreement protects 7,000 good jobs, which is a win for the state’s working families, businesses, and taxpayers ,” said Kevin Brown, New Jersey State Director for 32BJ. “The increased wages will help hardworking men and women across New Jersey better support their families, which will contribute to our state’s future economic growth.”
Over the next four years, hourly pay for cleaners will increase from the current rates of: $12 in most of the state; $11.50 in Bergen and Mercer counties; and $14 in downtown Newark and in the office towers along the Hudson waterfront. In addition, under the tentative contract, cleaners will continue to get healthcare coverage and other benefits.
Dinora Alberto, a building cleaner at Merck in Whitehouse Station, said the most important part to her of the new agreement is that workers will keep their healthcare coverage without having to pay monthly premiums on top of their copayments for doctors’ visits and deductibles. If I had to pay premiums, “I would not have enough money for rent, clothes for my daughter, or food.”
Negotiations began in mid-October between 32BJ and a consortium of cleaning contractors that include some of the largest in the nation and the state – American Building Maintenance (ABM), Allan Industries, and CRS Facility Services. Major real estate owners include highly profitable national and multinational companies such as Mack-Cali, Hartz Mountain, Johnson & Johnson, and Merck. Commercial real estate in the state is a $4.5-billion industry.
The contract between the consortium of contractors and 32BJ was set to expire at 12:01 a.m. on January 1st.
With 120,000 members in eight states, including 9,000 in New Jersey, 32BJ is the largest property service union in the country and one of the fastest-growing in the state.
# # #
32BJ of the Service Employees International Union
For more information:
Maia Davis: 201-396-4444
mdavis@seiu32bj.org
Michael Allen: 212-388-3805; 917-494-6197
mallen@seiu32bj.org
MEDIA ADVISORY
For Tuesday, December 27, 2011
NEW JERSEY BUILDING CLEANERS ENTER LAST SCHEDULED CONTRACT TALKS TODAY
- 7,000 Office Building Cleaners Will Prepare to Strike if Agreement Not Reached Tuesday -
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: at 3 p.m. Tuesday for update on progress of talks on last scheduled day of bargaining
The union representing 7,000 office building cleaners around New Jersey is making a last attempt to reach a fair contract for the workers before union members begin preparations to strike. More than two months after the union began negotiations with a consortium of cleaning contractors, the two sides remain far apart on wages and health care coverage. With less than five days remaining before the current contract expires at midnight on December 31st, today is the last scheduled day for bargaining.
WHAT: New Jersey State Director of 32BJ will give brief update on status of contract negotiations during a break in the talks.
Interviews also available with building cleaners on the union bargaining committee.
WHEN: 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: Hilton at Gateway Center
Newark, across from the entrance to Penn Station
WHO: 32BJ New Jersey State Director Kevin Brown with more than a dozen building cleaners on the union bargaining committee
With more than 120,000 members in eight states and Washington, D.C., including 9,000 in New Jersey, 32BJ SEIU is the largest union of property service workers in the country and one of the fastest-growing unions in the state.
# # #
Only 4 days remain before the expiration of the contract covering thousands of office cleaners in Hartford & New Haven, Conn., New Jersey, and New York City. These contracts expire on January 1, 2012 at 12:01 am.
We are also in contract talks for the Philadelphia Suburbs which expire on January 16, 2012 at 12:01 am.
We have a tentative agreement for Delaware Office Cleaners and Fairfield County, Conn. & Hudson Valley Office Cleaners.
What can you do?
Only 5 days remain before the expiration of the contract covering thousands of office cleaners in Hartford & New Haven, Conn., New Jersey, and New York City. These contracts expire on January 1, 2012 at 12:01 am.
We are also in contract talks for the Philadelphia Suburbs which expire on January 16, 2012 at 12:01 am.
We have a tentative agreement for Delaware Office Cleaners and Fairfield County, Conn. & Hudson Valley Office Cleaners.
What can you do?
Only 6 days remain before the expiration of the contract covering thousands of office cleaners in Hartford & New Haven, Conn., New Jersey, and New York City. These contracts expire on January 1, 2012 at 12:01 am.
We are also in contract talks for the Philadelphia Suburbs which expire on January 16, 2012 at 12:01 am.
We have a tentative agreement for Delaware Office Cleaners and Fairfield County, Conn. & Hudson Valley Office Cleaners.
What can you do?
Only 7 days remain before the expiration of the contract covering thousands of office cleaners in Hartford & New Haven, Conn., New Jersey, and New York City. These contracts expire on January 1, 2012 at 12:01 am.
We are also in contract talks for the Philadelphia Suburbs which expire on January 16, 2012 at 12:01 am.
We have a tentative agreement for Delaware Office Cleaners and Fairfield County, Conn. & Hudson Valley Office Cleaners.
What can you do?
Only 8 days remain before the expiration of the contract covering thousands of office cleaners in New York City, Hudson Valley, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
We have a tentative agreement for Delaware Office Cleaners.
What can you do?
Only 9 days remain before the expiration of the contract covering thousands of office cleaners in New York City, Hudson Valley, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Delaware.
What can you do?
32BJ of the Service Employees International Union
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Maia Davis: 201-396-4444
Eugenio Villasante: 212-539-2940
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
SENATOR MENENDEZ AND STATE LEGISLATORS TAKE STAND WITH BUILDING CLEANERS CALLING FOR FAIR CONTRACT
- Elected Officials Speak Out Days After Building Cleaners Authorized Possible Strike; Rally Held Outside Newark Hotel Where Contract Talks Taking Place -
Newark, NJ –U.S. Senator Robert Menendez and other elected officials – including state Senator Ray Lesniak (D-Union) – called on employers today to pay decent wages and to protect the healthcare coverage of the 7,000 men and women who clean office buildings around the state. The brief rally, held outside the Hilton at Gateway Center in Newark during a break in contract talks inside the building, came six days after building cleaners represented by 32BJ SEIU voted to authorize a possible strike if a fair agreement is not reached.
“This is about protecting jobs and workers and building a strong middle class. New Jersey residents, businesses and visitors depend on these hardworking men and women every day to keep the buildings where we work and conduct business clean, safe and sanitary,” Menendez said. “Now they are depending on all of us to stand with them for a fair contract with decent wages and benefits.”
Contract talks began in October between the cleaners and employers represented by the state association of cleaning contractors. Its members include some of the biggest cleaning companies in the nation or the state such as American Building Maintenance (ABM), Allan Industries and CRS Facility Services. The building cleaners voted last week to authorize a possible strike after the employers made demands that would amount to a pay cut for workers already struggling to stay out of poverty and would threaten their health benefits. Negotiations between the two sides resumed this morning at the Hilton as the contract expiration and threat of a possible strike looms closer.
“All these workers are asking for is good jobs that enable them to live in dignity and support their families without having to rely on government assistance,” Lesniak said. “That’s in all of our interests. When workers don’t get decent wages and benefits, it drags down our economy and puts taxpayers on the hook to subsidize essential services such as healthcare.”
32BJ members clean some of New Jersey’s most prestigious office buildings including along the Hudson County waterfront, in Newark, and in cities, towns and office parks across the state. Commercial real estate in New Jersey is a $4.5 billion industry with the list of top real estate owners and major tenants including Mack Cali, Merck, and Johnson & Johnson.
“We aren’t asking for anything unreasonable or extraordinary,” said Kevin Brown, New Jersey State Director for 32BJ. “Our members are just starting to get a toehold in the middle class and want to stay there without falling back into poverty.”
Most New Jersey building cleaners represented by 32BJ earn $12 an hour. Those working in Bergen and Mercer counties earn less, $11.50 an hour. Those along the Hudson waterfront and in Newark earn $14 an hour. Most receive health benefits and paid sick and vacation days, and some receive a pension. Many of the cleaners work two or even three jobs to make ends meet.
Sindy Vargas, a mother of two young children, cobbles together an existence by working part-time at night cleaning a Parsippany office building and full-time during the day as a building cafeteria cashier.
“We work too much,” Vargas said. “We lose time with our families.”
With 120,000 members in eight states, including 9,000 in New Jersey, 32BJ is the largest property service union in the country and one of the fastest-growing unions in the state.
# # #
32BJ of the SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Maia Davis: 201-396-4444
Eugenio Villasante: 212-539-2940
MEDIA ADVISORY:
FOR: Wednesday, December 21, 2011, at Noon
SENATOR MENENDEZ AND STATE LEGISLATORS TO STAND WITH BUILDING CLEANERS FOR A FAIR CONTRACT
– Elected Officials to Join Rally of Building Cleaners Outside Hotel Where Contract Talks Are Underway; Rally Comes Days After Strike Authorization Vote -
U.S. Senator Robert Menendez; State Senators Ray Lesniak (D-Union) and Ron Rice (D-Essex); and Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-Union) will join a rally of New Jersey building cleaners in Newark today to call for employers to agree to a fair contract for the 7,000 men and women who keep New Jersey office buildings clean, safe and sanitary. The brief rally will be held outside the Hilton at Gateway Center in Newark during a break in contract talks going on inside the building. Elected officials are taking a public stand six days after 2,000 building cleaners from around the state marched through downtown Newark and voted to authorize their union’s bargaining committee to call a strike if a fair agreement is not reached before the union contract expires at 12:01 a.m. on January 1st.
Contract talks for the cleaners began in October. But employers are making demands that would amount to a pay cut for workers already struggling to stay out of poverty and would threaten their health benefits. 32BJ members clean some of New Jersey’s most prestigious office buildings including along the Hudson County waterfront, in Newark, and in cities, towns and office parks across the state. Commercial real estate in New Jersey is a $4.5 billion industry with the list of top real estate owners and major tenants including Mack Cali, Merck, and Johnson & Johnson.
WHO: U.S. Senator Robert Menendez
State Senator Ray Lesniak (D-Union)
State Senator Ron Rice (D-Essex)
State Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-Union)
32BJ New Jersey State Director Kevin Brown
Office building cleaners from Essex and Hudson counties
WHAT: Elected officials join rally of building cleaners to call for a fair contract
WHEN: Noon to 12:30 p.m.
WHERE: Outside the Hilton at Gateway Center where contract negotiations are being held Wednesday
With more than 120,000 members in eight states and Washington, D.C., including 9,000 in New Jersey, 32BJ SEIU is the largest union of property service workers in the country and one of the fastest-growing unions in New Jersey.
###
For more information, visit www.standwithbuildingworkers.org
Only 10 days remain before the expiration of the contract covering thousands of office cleaners in New York City, Hudson Valley, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Delaware.
What can you do?
Members of our union, 32BJ SEIU, are standing together for good jobs. More than 60,000 property service workers in seven states are united in a campaign to secure new contracts that raise wage and benefit standards.
Workers in Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Montgomery County, MD, Northern Virginia, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have already negotiated new agreements that protect decent pay and benefit standards. Tentative agreements have been reached in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delaware, as well as Fairfield County, Conn. and Hudson Valley.
Tentative Agreements for:
• Delaware - Tentative Agreement Announced
• Fairfield County, Conn. & Hudson Valley – Tentative Agreement Announced
• New Jersey – Tentative Agreement Announced
• Hartford & New Haven, Conn. – Tentative Agreement Announced
• New York City – Tentative Agreement Announced
Contracts talks in the Philadelphia suburbs have been extended with a contract deadline on January 16, 2012 at 12:01 am.
• Philadelphia Suburbs – Expires January 16, 2012 at 12:01 am
With more than 120,000 members in nine states, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property services union in the country.
Check out the highlights from the big events this week! Thousands of 32BJ members joined together to demonstrate our determination to fight for good jobs.
Pledge Your Support for Office Cleaners
Check out the photos from yesterday’s strike vote and rally. We sent the strong message that we will not let employers push back our pay, benefits and rights on the job!
Pledge Your Support for NJ Office Cleaners
32BJ of the Service Employees International Union
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Maia Davis: 201-396-4444
Eugenio Villasante: 212-539-2940
Thursday, December 15, 2011
NEW JERSEY BUILDING CLEANERS AUTHORIZE THEIR BARGAINING COMMITTEE TO CALL A STRIKE
Newark, NJ – New Jersey office cleaners from 10 counties gathered in Newark today to authorize their bargaining committee to call a strike if necessary. Failure to reach a new contract by 12:01 a.m. on January 1st could lead to a strike by 7,000 office cleaners at more than 400 commercial office buildings around the state, including prominent properties along the Hudson waterfront and in Newark. The strike vote was followed by a march through downtown Newark.
Commercial real estate in New Jersey is a $4.5-billion industry. Its major real estate owners include highly profitable companies such as Mack-Cali, Hartz Mountain, Johnson & Johnson and Merck. Its cleaning contractors include some of the biggest in the nation and the state, including American Building Maintenance (ABM), Allan Industries and CRS Facility Services.
At the bargaining table, contractors, who are paid by the building owners, have demanded a range of givebacks that could bring financial devastation to building cleaners’ families while also harming office tenants and the building owners themselves.
Among the demands are a freeze in wages combined with a new monthly payment for health benefits. This would amount to a pay cut for workers who already commonly work two or three jobs in their daily struggle to pay for essentials such as food, housing and transportation.
New Jersey building cleaners represented by 32BJ earn $11.50 an hour in Bergen and Mercer counties. Those working along the Hudson waterfront and in Newark earn $14 an hour, and those in other parts of the state get a wage of $12 an hour. Most receive health benefits and paid sick and vacation days, and some receive a pension. But some part-time cleaners, such as Sindy Vargas of Paterson, don’t even get health benefits.
Vargas, a mother of two young children, cobbles together an existence by working part-time at night cleaning a Parsippany office building and full-time during the day as a building cafeteria cashier. Her 4-year-old son has asthma and was recently diagnosed with a heart murmur. But Vargas has only Medicaid to cover his treatment, forcing her to travel to different cities to find specialists who accept the government insurance.
“I need a full-time job [cleaning] so I don’t have to work two jobs,” Vargas said. “We work too much. We lose time with our families. We deserve health benefits.”
For more information: www.standwithbuildingworkers.org
# # #
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Maia Davis: 201-396-4444
Eugenio Villasante: 212-539-2940
32BJ of the SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION
MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR: Thursday, December 15, 2011, at 3:30 p.m.
NEW JERSEY OFFICE CLEANERS TO VOTE TO AUTHORIZE POSSIBLE STRIKE
– Up to Two Thousand Cleaners to March Through Newark at Rush Hour -
Two thousand office cleaners representing 7,000 from around the state will converge upon Newark on Thursday to vote whether to authorize their bargaining committee to call a strike if necessary. Contract talks for the cleaners began in October. But employers are making demands that would amount to a pay cut for workers already struggling to stay out of poverty and would threaten their health benefits. The cleaners will vote Thursday whether to authorize a strike when their contract expires in two weeks.
32BJ members clean some of New Jersey’s most prestigious office buildings including along the Hudson County waterfront, in Newark, and in cities, towns and office parks across the state. Commercial real estate in New Jersey is a $4.5 billion industry with the list of top real estate owners and major tenants including Mack Cali, Merck, and Johnson & Johnson.
MEDIA INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE IN THE COLLEGE GYM BUILDING PRIOR TO MEETING AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER MARCH AT MILITARY PARK. Media is not allowed in the meeting room during strike vote.
WHAT: Office cleaners from 10 counties will hold strike vote and march through downtown Newark.
Elected officials and top officers of 32BJ will address members in meeting prior to strike vote and at short outdoors rally following the march.
WHO: Up to 2,000 cleaners from the counties of : Essex, Hudson, Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Union, Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth and Somerset
NJ AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech
32BJ President Mike Fishman
32BJ Assistant to the President Larry Engelstein
32BJ New Jersey State Director Kevin Brown
State Senator Paul Sarlo (invited)
State Assemblyman Thomas Giblin (invited)
Passaic Mayor Alex Blanco
Newark City Council Members
Essex County Freeholders
WHEN: Meeting from 3:30 p.m. to 4 or 4:15 p.m., followed by march and short rally outdoors at Military Park.
WHERE: Essex County Community College gym at University Avenue and Market Street for strike vote meeting.
March will go down Market Street to Military Park for rally.
With more than 120,000 members in eight states and Washington, D.C., including 9,000 in New Jersey, 32BJ SEIU is the largest union of property service workers in the country.
###
We must act now to defend our jobs and to stop the senseless attacks on working people. Every 32BJ member must be involved in this fight to show all employers that we are united: If they come after some of us, they take on all of us.
Want to find out how you can get more involved? Learn more about volunteering.
| New York, NY | |
Newark, NJ Strike Vote & Rally Thur, Dec 15 |
|
White Plains, NY Strike Vote & Rally Thur, Dec 15 |
|
Stamford, CT Strike Vote & Rally Thur, Dec 15 |
|
Hartford, CT Strike Vote & Rally Thur, Dec 15 |
Hudson County’s County Executive and Freeholders on October 13th passed a resolution declaring that they “strongly support SEIU Local 32BJ’s contract campaign for good jobs.” See below for the full text of the resolution.
|
BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS COUNTY OF HUDSON RESOLUTION No. 442-10-2011 On Motion of Freeholder: Board as a whole Seconded by Freeholder
SUPPORTING SEIU LOCAL 32BJ’S CONTRACT CAMPAIGN FOR GOOD WHEREAS, Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the largest property services union in the country, is leading a “contract campaign for good jobs” to provide working families the opportunity for a brighter future through a decent wage, health care and retirement security; Local 32BJ’s “contract campaign for good jobs” is part of SEIU’s national effort to rebuild the middle class, restore the economy and reclaim the American Dream; and WHEREAS, labor contracts covering 7,000 of Local 32BJ’s office cleaners are set to expire; the employees covered by these contracts often go unnoticed yet their work is essential to the daily operations of corporate and government offices; and WHEREAS, the Hudson County Executive and the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders support the right to living wages, health care and retirement security for workers; living wages help develop sustainable communities that use increased earnings to benefit the local economy while substandard pay and benefits by employers forces substantial number of employees to rely on government subsidies for healthcare, housing and food; and WHEREAS, as evidence of this commitment, the County of Hudson has been a leader in advocating for fair wages and adequate health benefits for workers and was the first County in the State of New Jersey and the second County in the entire country to enact a Living Wage Ordinance that requires business benefiting from taxpayer funds to provide their employees with a living wage and reasonable health benefits; and WHEREAS, in an effort to strengthen employee benefits, the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders will consider an amendment to its Living Wage Ordinance that expands its coverage so that employers covered by the Ordinance cannot evade the requirement of providing medical benefits or a medical benefit stipend by hiring part-time workers instead of full-time workers; the amendment to the Living Wage Ordinance further expands its coverage to include vendors engaged by Hudson County Community College and the Hudson County Schools of Technology; and WHEREAS, the welfare and best interests of Hudson County and its residents will benefit, and the employment and economic development needs of Hudson County and its residents will be advanced, when employee rights are protected and labor is fairly and justly compensated. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Hudson County Executive and Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders strongly support SEIU Local 32BJ’s “contract campaign for good jobs” and its efforts seek better wages, health care benefits and retirement security for workers who provide cleaning services in corporate and government buildings; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the President of New Jersey Local 32BJ SEIU.
|
Here are some of the photos 32BJ building cleaners have taken of their coworkers outside their buildings.
More than 150 building cleaners representing 7,000 cleaners in New Jersey converged upon the Hilton at Newark Penn Station on Tuesday for the opening of contract talks with employers. The current contract expires at the end of the year.
32BJ of the Service Employees International Union
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Maia Davis: 201-396-4444; 212-388-3696
Eugenio Villasante: 212-539-2940; 646-285-1087
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
NJ BUILDING CLEANERS LAUNCH FIGHT TO PROTECT GOOD JOBS AS STATEWIDE CONTRACT TALKS OPEN
- Union Proposals Focus on Preserving Good Jobs for a Stronger New Jersey Economy -
Newark, N.J. — More than 150 building cleaners representing 7,000 cleaners from across the state converged upon the Hilton at Newark Penn Station on Tuesday morning as contract talks began between their union, 32BJ SEIU, and an association of cleaning contractors for office buildings. The union is negotiating with the contractors at a time when asking rents on office space are up in the state, to the benefit of the owners who pay the contractors. 32BJ is seeking to preserve good jobs for a stronger New Jersey economy.
“We are asking for a fair contract to ensure that thousands of hardworking New Jerseyans get the wages and benefits they need to support their families, and that our state’s building owners and tenants get the professional, quality service they want,” said Kevin Brown, New Jersey State Director for 32BJ SEIU. “A win for our workers will be a win for the state because New Jersey’s future prosperity depends on working people having good jobs that enable them to contribute to economic growth.”
New Jersey building cleaners represented by 32BJ earn $11.50 an hour in Bergen and Mercer counties, which comes to $23,920 annually for those working full-time. Those working along the Hudson waterfront and in Newark earn $14 an hour, or $29,120 for full-time, and for those in other parts of the state the wage is $12 an hour, $24,960 full-time. They also receive health benefits and paid sick and vacation days, and some receive a pension. In contrast to their modest annual wages, the 2010 median household income in New Jersey was $67,681.
“I work hard every day to keep my building safe and sanitary for the owners and the office workers who depend on us,” said Adelia Teixeira, who cleans an office building in downtown Newark. “But even working as hard as I do, it is hard to support my family on my wages in an expensive state like New Jersey.”
New Jersey’s commercial real estate industry is a $4.5-billion industry. Its major real estate owners include highly profitable companies such as Mack-Cali, Hartz Mountain, Johnson & Johnson and Merck. Its 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.
“Our campaign for a fair contract in New Jersey is part of a larger fight this fall by 60,000 building service workers from Connecticut to New York and Washington, D.C.,” said Valarie Long, Vice President of 32BJ. “We are fighting on behalf of all working families, to turn back the tide of growing income inequality that is undermining our society and our future.”
32BJ’s bargaining team and cleaning contractors began their contract talks at the Gateway Hilton at Newark Penn Station. The contract for the 7,000 building cleaners expires at 12:01 a.m. on January 1st.
With more than 120,000 members in eight states and Washington, D.C., including more than 9,000 in New Jersey, 32BJ SEIU is the largest union of property service workers in the country and one of the fastest-growing unions in the state.
# # #
Contract talks begin for us on Tuesday, October 18. Be sure to help send a message to employers right from the start that we’re united for a fair contract. Come to the first day of bargaining – and sticker up at work.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
9:00 a.m.
Newark Hilton at Gateway Center
1048 Raymond Boulevard
Newark, NJ 07102
Wear your stickers to work on
October 17 and 18 – and get
your co-workers to do the same.
Check out this video from the rally in Philadelphia last week (09/28/2011).
Speakers include:
| Mike Fishman President 32BJ SEIU Valarie Long Vice President 32BJ SEIU Juanita Acree 32BJ SEIU Member – Philadelphia Wayne MacManiman 32BJ SEIU Mid-Atlantic District Director Cheryl Adams 32BJ SEIU Member – Philadelphia Rosa Cox 32BJ SEIU Member – New York Carlos Ramos 32BJ SEIU Member – New Jersey Frederick R. Deas 32BJ SEIU Member – Philadelphia Jose Regalado 32BJ SEIU Member – New Jersey Rodrigo Mendez 32BJ SEIU Member – New York Jacinto Quinonez 32BJ SEIU Member – New Jersey Patricia Arcila-Cabrera 32BJ SEIU Staff – New Jersey |
Jim Bird 32BJ SEIU Member – Pittsburgh Sara Pastorelli 32BJ SEIU Member – Connecticut Ana Rodriguez 32BJ SEIU Member – New York Tony McIntosh 32BJ SEIU Member – New York Safet Lukolic 32BJ SEIU Member – New York Maria Ruiz 32BJ SEIU Member – New York Clara Castillo 32BJ SEIU Member – Washington, DC U.S. Rep. Bob Brady Pennsylvania’s First District Robert Tucker 32BJ SEIU Member – Philadelphia Kevin Doyle Executive Vice President 32BJ SEIU Mary Kay Henry SEIU International President Hector Figueroa Secretary Treasurer 32BJ SEIU |
Philadelphia, PA (9/28/2011) – Thousands of property service workers from Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey, the Washington, D.C.-area, Connecticut and Delaware, rallied downtown last week to call for a fair contract in Philadelphia. They were joined by Rep. Bob Brady (D-Pa.) and President of the Service Employees International Union, Mary Kay Henry. Contract negotiations are underway for more than 2,600 building cleaners in Philadelphia, who are fighting for a fair wage increase and secure benefits.
More interviews:
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
2,000 members of 32BJ marched in the streets of Philadelphia yesterday demanding fair contracts and good jobs. Click here to see photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/32bj/sets/72157627782061910/ .
We came from New York City and the Hudson Valley, New Jersey, the Washington, D.C.-area, Connecticut, Delaware and Western Pennsylvania to join with Philly members because we are one union united in one fight.
The first wave in our campaign is Philadelphia, the D.C. area and Pittsburgh, where contracts expire in October. Our march told employers in every 32BJ city that we will stand together in these cities — and everywhere — until we win good, strong contracts for all 60,000 32BJ commercial office cleaners, janitors and building service workers.
Mary Kay Henry, president of the SEIU, joined us yesterday in Philadelphia for the march. Our fight is part of a much larger campaign for all property service workers. Contracts expire for more than 150,000 SEIU janitors across the country in the next year. We all share the same goal: To defend good jobs that support our families, strengthen our communities and get our economy on track. SEIU members rallied in 22 cities yesterday to send this message nationwide.
Yesterday was exciting — and important. I urge you to stay involved as we fight on. Our success depends on our solidarity, our resolve — and our action.
Yours in solidarity,
Mike Fishman, 32BJ President
32BJ of SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Eugenio H. Villasante 646 285 1087
Julie Karant: 646-584-9001
Maia Davis 201-396-4444
THOUSANDS OF PROPERTY SERVICE WORKERS RALLY FOR GOOD JOBS
- Philadelphia Cleaners Vote to Authorize Strike -
- Rep. Brady Joins Rally; Property Service Workers Rally in 21 Other Cities Across the Country -
Philadelphia, PA – Thousands of property service workers from Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey, the Washington, D.C.-area, Connecticut and Delaware, rallied downtown today to call for a fair contract in Philadelphia. They were joined by Rep. Bob Brady (D-Pa.) and President of the Service Employees International Union, Mary Kay Henry. Contract negotiations are underway for more than 2,600 building cleaners in Philadelphia, who are fighting for a fair wage increase and secure benefits.
Following the rally, the Philadelphia property service workers voted to give their bargaining committee the power to call for a strike, if necessary. A strike, if one occurs, could affect more than 100 buildings, including Liberty Tower, Comcast Center and Commerce Square. The current contract expires at 12:01 a.m. on October 16, 2011.
“Today’s strike vote shows we’re determined to keep our city a place that working families can afford to call home,” said Wayne MacManiman, Mid-Atlantic Director for 32BJ. “Our members are determined to protect their good jobs, which are critical to their families, their communities, and to the thousands of tenants who depend on these workers’ services.”
Negotiations began on September 8th between 32BJ, the city’s largest private-sector union, and leaders of Building Operators Labor Relations, Inc. (BOLR), an organization representing Philadelphia’s major commercial office building owners, managers, and cleaning companies.
“The real estate industry in Philadelphia surely has the money to keep the benefits that keep our children healthy,” said Angel Castro, a cleaner in Center City who has three children. “I’ve got two kids in college, a mortgage to pay, groceries to buy. I’m struggling like many people these days.”
Philadelphia and the Washington, D.C. area are the first of several cities where contract negotiations will occur this fall. Altogether, 60,000 commercial members from Northern Virginia to Connecticut and Philadelphia to Pittsburgh are united in a campaign to secure new contracts that protect good jobs.
“Our city, our state, and our country need for working people to get the fair pay and decent benefits they deserve,” Congressman Bob Brady (D-Pa.) said. “A win for commercial office cleaners in this contract fight will be a win for all of us.”
“At a time when American workers are under attack, 32BJ members are standing together for the good jobs our communities and our country needs,” said Mike Fishman, President of 32BJ, the nation’s largest union of property service workers. “Not just here in Philadelphia, but in twenty two cities across the country today.”
“The 2,600 property service workers here in Philadelphia who are bargaining to keep good jobs alive are not in this fight alone,” said SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry. “Across the country, more than 150,000 janitors over the next year will be sitting across the table from their employer—bargaining contracts to defend good jobs and rebuild the middle class.”
With more than 120,000 members in eight states, including 7,000 in Philadelphia, 32BJ is the largest property services union in the country.
###
Rally today in Philadelphia! We are demonstrating for the good jobs we need to support our families, and which our nation needs to regain its footing after the worst economic crisis to hit in a generation. We are all standing together on the same day in this fight for good jobs because the contracts for some 150,000 building service workers, including 60,000 in 32BJ Districts, will soon be expiring from coast to coast.
UPDATE 10/04/2011: Video
UPDATE, 11:21 AM 9/28/2011:
Incoming photos on Flickr: Philadelphia Commercial Contract Rally 09.28.2011
To add your photos, email us: photos@seiu32bj.org!
Here are what some people are saying on Twitter:
@seiu: RT @elizaj: Goodbye, Philly! Awesome rally with @32BJ_SEIU members! One union! PHOTOS posted: http://t.co/r4Cv8xnU
@green4philly: At the SEIU 32BJ rally in Dilworth Plaza. http://t.co/BWBaotzB
@tanyalias: We got thousands in the street – hey corporations do your part! #j4j http://t.co/Deg1n0zD
You can follow rallies in Philly and 22 other cities on twitter: Search for #j4j (Justice 4 Janitors) on Twitter
Update, 5:49 PM: Press Coverage is starting to roll in –
SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION
MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR 12 p.m., Wednesday, September 28, 2011
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Eugenio H. Villasante 212 539 2940, 646 285 1087
Julie Karant: 646-584-9001
Maia Davis 201-396-4444
- Strike vote by Philadelphia members to follow rally with Rep. Brady -
Philadelphia, PA – Thousands of property service workers from Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey, the Washington, D.C. region, Connecticut and Allegheny County will march and rally downtown on Wednesday to call for a fair contract. Among them will be some of the 2,600 building cleaners in Philadelphia fighting for a new contract with a fair wage increase, employer-paid family health care and retirement security. Contract negotiations are also underway for more than 12,000 commercial cleaners in the Wash., D.C. region and for 2,100 in Allegheny County. These negotiations mark the first round of a multistate campaign by 60,000 cleaners for new contracts that maintain and raise wage and benefit standards. Altogether, across the country, more than 150,000 property service workers in the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) are fighting for a fair contract from now through 2012. Following the rally, the Philadelphia-area cleaners will vote on whether to grant their bargaining committee the power to call a strike if necessary.
WHAT: March, rally and strike vote
WHO: Thousands of commercial office cleaners from Philadelphia, N.Y., N.J., Conn. Wash., D.C., Md., Del. Va., and Allegheny Co., Pa.
Congressman Bob Brady (D-Philadelphia)
SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry
City Council members
Philadelphia labor leaders and other community supporters
*Interviews can be arranged prior to rally with SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry
WHEN: Wednesday, September 28, 2011
March at 12 PM
Rally and strike vote at 1 PM
WHERE: Dilworth Plaza, City Hall
15th & JFK
Rallies and marches will also be held in 21 other cities across the country, with property service workers and their supporters calling for the good jobs that build strong communities.
With more than 120,000 members in eight states, including 7,000 in Philadelphia, Local 32BJ is the largest property services union in the country.
# #
UPDATE, 5:55 PM 9/28/2011:
More photos, press, and social media coverage of the rallies.
UPDATE, 11:21 AM 9/28/2011:
Incoming photos on Flickr: GOOD JOBS RALLY IN PHILLY To add your photos, email us: photos@seiu32bj.org!
On September 28 in Philadelphia — and in As we go to the negotiating table to fight for good jobs, we do so knowing that this fight is part of a larger campaign for the good jobs across our country needs.
|
Los Angeles Orange County/Irvine Sacramento San Diego/La Jolla San Francisco San Jose Denver Chicago Indianapolis Boston Detroit Milwaukee Kansas City St Louis Cincinnati Cleveland Columbus Toledo Portland Philadelphia Providence Houston Seattle |
Update, 9/27/2011: 22 cities!
32BJ members honor the legacy of the Justice for Janitors campaign annually on June 15th. We remember the incredible organizing efforts of those janitors and cleaners who decided to join together and take action to demand respect and a better life. This year we had events June 11-17 in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.
Press Coverage
Justice for Janitors in New York Metro:
Justice for Janitors in Connecticut:
Justice for Janitors in New Jersey:
Justice for Janitors in Washington, DC:
Justice for Janitors in Western Pennsylvania:
March for the Middle Class in New York City:
