Deal must be ratified by 32BJ membership, and includes great pay raises, pension increases, no healthcare premium sharing, maintains sick leave and vacation benefits, continues funding for health, training and retirement

Tentative agreement includes a 12.47% wage increase over 4 years

NEW YORK, NY – 32BJ SEIU building workers and the Riverbay Corporation announced today that they have reached a tentative agreement that achieves excellent wins for nearly 500 building service workers at CO-OP City, the nation’s largest affordable housing cooperative. The tentative agreement was reached before the June 8 expiration of the current contract, averting a strike that could have affected 35 buildings and an estimated 40,000 residents.

In this contract, 32BJ SEIU, representing the 500 porters, doorpersons, superintendents, handypersons, garage workers, attendants and public safety dispatchers, reaches a historic agreement including:

• Winning a 12.47% wage increase over 4 years
• Strong pension increases
• Maintenance of the high wage bargaining unit threshold
• Ensuring no premium share and maintenance of 100% employer-paid healthcare
• Protecting paid sick leave and paid vacation
• Protecting employer contributions to legal and training funds

The tentative agreement protects health care benefits while also providing large pension and wage increases that keep members ahead of inflation and the rising cost of living. The economic security provided in the tentative contract will ensure that the workers will be able to continue to keep CO-OP City up and running while also providing for themselves and their families.

32BJ President Kyle Bragg said: “This is a phenomenal agreement for CO-OP City workers and 32BJ members! Not only have they won excellent wage and pension increases to keep up with the rising cost of living, but this tentative agreement also protects their great employer-paid healthcare, legal funds and training funds that help them pursue professional development. I want to thank both sides of this negotiation for reaching a deal that put the New Yorkers who kept the nation’s largest affordable housing complex running during a pandemic first.”

32BJ Executive Vice President and Director of NY Schools Division, Bronx Residential and Hudson Valley District Shirley Aldebol said: “This contract honors the indispensable contributions 32BJ members have made throughout the pandemic at the service of the residents of the largest affordable housing complex in the nation. I want to thank our negotiating partners at the Riverbay Corporation for working in good faith and reaching a fair deal for both sides.”

CO-OP City worker and 32BJ bargaining committee member Kimberly Hutchinson said: “The sacrifices we made during the pandemic embues this agreement with a special meaning. CO-OP City represents a unique vision of cooperative housing in New York. That project would not be possible without the 32BJ members who kept the country’s largest affordable housing complex humming throughout a global pandemic. I want to thank my fellow members and Riverbay Corporation for working together to reach a deal that protects our healthcare and ensures that our salaries keep up with the ever-increasing cost of living.”

The tentative agreement comes less than a week after elected officials and labor leaders joined 32BJ SEIU members to demand a fair contract. They were joined by Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson and New York City Councilmember Kevin Riley (District 12) and labor leaders, including 32BJ Secretary-Treasurer Manny Pastreich, 32BJ Assistant to the President John Santos.

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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.