MIKE FISHMAN
PRESIDENT
Mike Fishman, President of Local 32BJ Service Employees International Union, leads the largest property services union in the country. Local 32BJ represents more than 100,000 property service workers – window cleaners, superintendents, doormen, maintenance workers, cleaners, porters and security officers – in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
A union leader for more than 25 years, Mike was re-elected 32BJ President in September 2006 for a third three-year term. He is widely credited with revitalizing the local and is dedicated to keeping it responsive to members’ needs. Under his leadership, the union has launched a massive organizing drive, adding 10,000 new members and providing the membership with greater strength at the bargaining table and in political and community life.
In 2004, Mike led contract negotiations that protected and expanded employer paid family health care coverage for 55,000 property service workers in New York City. He is credited with negotiating new area-wide agreements for New Jersey, Westchester and Long Island that have been instrumental in raising standards for cleaners. Mike spearheaded an effort with the real estate industry to develop New York Safe & Secure, an innovative security-training program for private security officers as well as commercial and apartment building workers. He was successful in reaching an accord to insure stability for the union’s commercial workers in the weeks following the World Trade Center attack.
The grandson of a union carpenter who taught him the trade, Mike’s
career as a labor activist began when he joined the carpenters’ union. After nearly 20 years at the carpenters’ union, during which he served as Director of Organization, Mike joined SEIU in 1996 as assistant to the president.
Mike serves as Chair of the SEIU Property Services Division, Chair of the 32BJ Benefit Fund, Vice President of SEIU, Vice President of the New York State AFL-CIO Executive Council and Vice President of the New York City Central Labor Council.
Mike was raised in Queens and Connecticut, where he attended public schools. He is married, has a daughter and lives in New York City.
“When we stand together as one union we have the power to do great things for ourselves, our families and our communities.”
- Mike Fishman
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