Philadelphia, PA– Nearly 300 men and women who help Aqua Pennsylvania supply clean water to Chester, Montgomery, Bucks, and Delaware Counties have ratified a new two-year contract that protects health care and provides wage increases and other job protections.

The workers and 32BJ SEIU defeated the company’s proposals to force workers to accept unaffordable health care premiums under the contract which now expires on September 30, 2013.

“The men and women who work hard to keep our water running have protected family-sustaining jobs,” said Wayne MacManiman, 32BJ SEIU Mid-Atlantic District Director. “Helping workers better support their families and communities is a critical step towards our economic recovery.”

Many of these workers help maintain the health and safety of the water supply to the region. They hold many positions including water distribution, construction, meter reading, and water treatment and purification, among other skilled jobs.

With more than 120,000 members, including 15,000 in Pennsylvania, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property services union in the country.