New York, NY – Today, November 9, over 1,600 NYC commercial cleaners, porters and handypersons rallied in midtown Manhattan (6th Ave & 38th St.) and downtown Manhattan’s Zuccotti Park, hours after the launch of key negotiations for a fair new labor contract covering 20,000 NYC workers and 1,300 buildings.
Workers are negotiating for wage increases that keep up with the cost of living and to protect life-saving health care benefits and other labor standards that have lifted thousands of NYC working class and immigrant families toward the middle class. Their current collective bargaining agreement expires December 31. 32BJ is bargaining with The Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations Inc., an organization representing New York City’s major commercial office building owners, managers, and cleaning companies.
This essential workforce sacrificed personally and financially throughout COVID-19. One in three members were on layoff during the height of COVID, there are 10% fewer positions today than in 2019, and inflation has made providing for their families an even greater challenge. Meanwhile, commercial rents have increased, tourists have returned, and job growth has surpassed 2019 levels. Bargaining will determine whether the cleaners who are the backbone of the buildings will be able to survive in the city going forward and provide for their families.
Cleaners have been preparing for the campaign for over a year. 500 strike captains are mobilizing at their workplaces to fight for a contract that reflects the essential workers’ invaluable role in New York City’s economic recovery.
The real estate industry has been able to cut labor costs since the onset of COVID-19 by reducing the commercial cleaning workforce by 2,000 positions, accounting for office vacancy rates. Workers do not clean vacant office space.
The contract covers tourist attractions and public spaces like the Empire State Building Observatory, Top of the Rock, The Edge at Hudson Yards, World Trade Observatory; museums like MoMA; new commercial developments like Hudson Yards; large commercial office buildings like One Vanderbilt and World Trade Center; universities like NYU, Pace, Long Island University and St. John’s University; transportation hubs like Grand Central and Port Authority; biotech labs; and more.
During the height of COVID-19, cleaners, including those with pre-existing conditions, worked despite the risks, because their buildings, transportation hubs and the city needed them. They adapted to extraordinary circumstances, learning new routines and sanitizing practices – risking their lives and the health of their families as they continued working and commuting on public transportation.
Dozens of commercial cleaners passed away from complications due to COVID-19 and thousands of others suffered through extended layoffs due to COVID-19 work from home policies.
Per their current contract, NYC cleaners receive $29/hour, employer-paid family health insurance, paid vacation, paid sick leave, a retirement pension, and have access to free legal, education and training services where they learn the latest sanitizing practices and access free career advancement opportunities. These standards have been fought for and incrementally won over decades of struggle and organizing.
“We all know it is too expensive to live in this city,” said Drita Gjigoda, a commercial cleaner at 450 Lexington Ave. “I live with my husband and son in Queens. And even with two incomes we are still struggling financially. If I had time, I would take a second job to feel less stressed financially. I wonder – how will I be able to retire? We are just asking for enough to live and raise a family in the city where they work.”
“I am a single mother of two teenagers and the cost of living is getting out of control,” said Iris Colon, a commercial cleaner at 488 Madison Ave. “It’s hard to afford healthy food. We are struggling to pay rent. I want my kids to be able to live in the city they grew up in and where their community is. We are essential workers. We were here for the city when it needed us. We sacrificed. Our co-workers got sick and passed away from COVID-19. We put our lives on the line to re-open this city. And we cannot afford any cuts to our health insurance and we need fair wage increases so we can survive!”
“New York City’s commercial cleaners are essential workers who were on the frontlines during COVID. They re-opened this CITY! They put your lives on the line! Thousands were laid off during COVID and many took on second jobs to get by,” said 32BJ SEIU President Manny Pastreich. “Rents are sky high, and the cost of living and inflation are making it hard to live. That’s why today at the bargaining table we sent a clear message to the building owners. We made it clear we will not tolerate any cuts to our health insurance. We made it clear that we need a raise. We demanded improvements to our pensions. We demanded respect. Because billionaires cannot be allowed to balance their books on the backs of working class New Yorkers.”
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With more than 175,000 members in 12 states, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service workers union in the country. 32BJ SEIU represents over 80,000 building service workers in NYC, including 20,000 commercial office cleaners. 32BJ SEIU members hail from 64 different countries and speak 28 different languages.