History -- SEIU 32BJ -- About Your Union: History

1921 William Queese organizes the Chicago Flat janitors with an AFL Charter as the Building Service Employees International Union (BSEIU). Although this was little noticed at the time, the local would soon become a major force in the growing labor movement industry.

1928 BSEIU membership is up to 7,000 members scattered across the country, centered in Chicago.

1932 The New York local chapters are faring badly: Local 32 (Superintendents and Janitors), Local 58 (Elevator Operators) and others are either folding or losing their effectiveness in contrast to their Chicago brothers and sisters who were 20 years ahead in bargaining power and wages.

1934 Scoffed by building owners, James Bambrick and Tom Young take their workers to the streets. Local 32B effectively shuts down the garment district, with help from the Teamsters and the Garment Workers Union. New members are signed up throughout the strike under protection from the Union.

The strike draws national attention. Mayor LaGuardia finally steps in to mediate and the strike is settled in 1935 through arbitration, handing victory to the young union.

1934 Bambrick becomes the first president of Local 32B. He serves until 1941.

1936 On March 1st, New York real estate barons decide to break the fledgling union. Local 32B leads a general strike in response, causing citywide paralysis. By March 15th, the barons resume bargaining, establishing Local 32B overnight as one of the nation's most powerful trade unions.

1941 David Sullivan serves as president until 1960.

1943 At the peak of World War II, membership at 31,000, with 3,000 in the military, and another 5,000 on furlough working in war industries.

1955 The local creates the first Surgical Specialist Service Plan and in 1957 opens the free diagnostic health center near Roosevelt Hospital, offering consultancies in every medical specialty.

1956 32B's pension plan is unveiled to help retired members enjoy their golden years.

1960 Thomas Shortman serves as president until 1972.

1962 Membership tops 40,000 through a merger with 32K, a Brooklyn local.

1963 The Local launches its first job training and upgrading program to help membership qualify for better jobs. The first classes begin in June with 62 students enrolled in four courses. The program was later named the Shortman Training Program.

Already racially integrated, the union leads marches throughout the sixties and plays prominent roles in the International's Committee on Civil Rights.

1968 International membership tops 372,000

1969 Major medical insurance is added to basic benefits for members.

1972 The union is now led by Arthur Harkham; local membership is at 43,000.

1976 New Local president John Sweeney leads the toughest strike in 32B's history. With 20,000 workers in the streets, the 17-day long strike brings higher wages and more elaborate pension and health packages.

1977 Local 32B merges with Local 32J, the largely women-populated building maintenance workers. Through this merger and the addition of Local 32J's 17,000 members, Local 32B-32J becomes the nation's largest union.

1978 The merged union faces its first major test as contractors lead a lockout at the World Trade Center. Fought in bitter cold and constant snow, the mass rally on the concourse finally turns the tide and the contractors capitulate.

1981 Gus Bevona becomes the union's sixth president. He serves until 1999.

1992 Union opens its current headquarters, at 101 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan.

1996 More than 30,000 Manhattan office building workers strike for one month, representing one of the city's biggest strikes in recent years.

1999 Bevona retires. International union places 32B-32J in trusteeship.

2000 Members elect Mike Fishman as president.

2001 Membership reaches 70,000 through mergers with unions in Connecticut, the Bronx and Westchester, as well as through organizing victories. Local 32B-32J becomes the fastest-growing union in the tri-state area.

2001 The union's new focus on political activism pays off: Local 32B-32J supports candidates who win major elected offices in New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut, Long Island and Westchester.