Kwame Patterson: 212-388-3696;
312-371-2485
Matt Painter: 212-388-3805
917-584-0787
Newark, NJ — Hundreds of New Jersey apartment building employees, along with New York City building workers, elected leaders and union officials, marched and rallied today through the streets of Fort Lee in an effort to win wage increases, affordable health care and meaningful benefits for northern New Jersey apartment building workers.
“The workers who keep apartment buildings running and residents safe should be able to make ends meet,” said Kyle Bragg, Vice President of 32BJ’s Residential Division. “The rally is about more than a new contract, it’s about pushing for good, middle class jobs for New Jersey’s working families.”
There are more than 300 porters, doormen, concierges, handymen, repairmen, carpenters, painters and mechanics working in 16 apartment buildings throughout northern New Jersey who are covered by 32BJ contracts.
As part of the first round of negotiations for new, multi-year contracts for northern New Jersey apartment building workers, 32BJ SEIU began bargaining with owners of 10 apartment buildings in Fort Lee and Cliffside Park. The Fort Lee/Cliffside Park apartment buildings include Carlyle Towers, River Ridge, Winston Towers, Century Towers, Linwood Park, Northbridge Park, the Colony, Doric Apartments, Gregory Commons and Horizon House.
The building service workers were also joined at the march by Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney.
“I am proud to stand in support of the hundreds of apartment building workers who are fighting for a fair contract,” McNerney said. “These workers provide a tremendous service to thousands of New Jersey residents, and they deserve good wages and benefits to support their own families.”
Workers are asking for wage increases to keep up with the rising costs of living, maintaining affordable family health care and ensuring the funds for training and retirement.
Wages for area apartment building workers range from $22,000 per year to $39,000 per year. Meanwhile, the median household income for all of New Jersey in 2008 was $70,347, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and in Bergen County, the median household income was $82,136.
Over the past four years, the consumer price index for the New York – New Jersey region has gone up 11.3%. In comparison, wages have gone up only 7.1% for workers at one of the highest paying buildings among the group taking part in the negotiations.
The union also seeks to create a more uniform agreement with the 16 apartment buildings that would streamline the negotiating process and lower costs to building owners and managers. A similar structure already exists in New York where the Realty Advisory Board (RAB) represents building owners and managers at more than 3,200 buildings throughout the city.
With more than 120,000 members in eight states, including 8,500 in New Jersey, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service workers union in the country. It is also one of the fastest growing unions in the state.
updated 6/24/2010
