Maia Davis: 201-396-4444
mdavis@seiu32bj.org
Michael Allen: 212-388-3805
mallen@seiu32bj.org
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.
For more information, visit www.standwithbuildingworkers.org .
updated 12/27/2011
