NEW YORK—Days after 32BJ SEIU members voted to authorize a strike, the union bargaining committee and the Bronx Realty Advisory Board reached a new 4-year agreement that includes a $64.75 per week raise over the life of the contract and maintains health care and retirement benefits for over 3,500 residential workers in the Bronx.  The agreement also includes an employer 401k contribution of five dollars per week starting in the second year of the contract.

Once ratified by the members, the contract will allow these doormen and doorwomen, supers, porters and handypersons who work in apartment buildings across the Bronx to support their families and strengthen their communities.

“Our goal at the bargaining table was to get a new contract that lets us continue to live in the Bronx and take care of our kids and protect our health care and retirement benefits,” said 32BJ Bargaining Committee member Jay Etheridge.  “We got that and the deal shows our hard work is valued and appreciated. It means a lot to all of us who take pride in our work and keep apartment buildings across the Bronx clean, safe, and well maintained.”

The deal will help set a standard for good jobs in the Bronx.

“This agreement will give these hardworking doormen and doorwomen, supers, porters and handypersons, many of whom live in the Bronx, the opportunity to keep up with rising costs,” said 32BJ Secretary-Treasurer Kyle Bragg, who led the union’s negotiations at the bargaining table.  “And this deal demonstrates the positive results that can come when both sides are willing to sit at the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith.”

Hundreds of Bronx residential workers braved the rain on Tuesday to rally outside of Bronx Borough Hall to show their solidarity in the fight for a fair contract. They were joined by Congressman José Serrano, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., City Council members and community members who stood with them in their campaign.

The campaign was called “Bronx Strong” and 32BJ reaffirmed its commitment to fight for good jobs for everyone in the Bronx.

“As we fought for a strong contract for our members, we will continue to fight for those who do not yet have a union, suffer under poor conditions and low wages, and also deserve a chance to make ends meet and be able to live in this city,” said 32BJ President Hector Figueroa.

            With more than 145,000 members including 70,000 in New York City, 32BJ is the largest property service workers union in the country.

####