Published: March 10, 2010
NEW YORK CITY — Negotiations for a new, multi-year contract began this week between the Realty Advisory Board (RAB), an industry association representing most building owners in the city, and 32BJ SEIU, the union representing more than 30,000 doormen, superintendents, resident managers, handymen, concierges and porters working at apartment buildings citywide, including 1,980 workers at 225 buildings in Brooklyn.
“The workers who keep apartment buildings running well and residents safe should be able to make ends meet in our city,” said Mike Fishman, 32BJ president in a published statement. “This campaign is about more than a new contract, it’s about keeping our city a place that working families can still afford to call home.”
Major issues include wage increases to keep up with the rising cost of living, maintaining affordable family health care and ensuring adequate funds for training and retirement.
In an effort to lower building operating costs, the union is also encouraging employers to participate in a new “Green Buildings” training program.
“Building owners and managers will benefit from lower operating costs when building workers are trained in state of the art energy efficiency practices,” said Kyle Bragg, 32BJ vice president.
In the four years since the last contract, the consumer price index (CPI) in the city area has jumped 11.3 percent, union officials say.
“Apartment building workers should be able to live in the city where they work,” Bragg said. Also, in the four years since the contract was last negotiated, the value of residential real estate has grown by 28 percent in the city, according to the Marcus & Millichap Apartment Index.
“Despite the economic downturn, the New York real estate industry still boasts the lowest vacancy rate in the country and the highest average rent,” said Fishman. “This $584 billion industry surely has the capacity to ensure that the workers who maintain their buildings can support their own families.”
Talks are scheduled to resume next Wednesday, March 17.
