April 14, 2014
By Marc Bussanich
New York, NY—One week after nearly 7,000 doormen, porters and handymen marched up 5th Avenue to 79th Street, 32BJ SEIU and the Realty Advisory Board announced a tentative labor agreement on Friday afternoon at the New York Hilton.
According to RAB, a multi-employer association representing real estate interests in the New York City metropolitan region, 32BJ members will continue to be the highest paid residential building service workers in the country.
“The agreement includes an average wage increase of 2.71 percent each year over the four year contract, or approximately 11.3 percent total. That will bring total wages for a typical doormen or porter from $44,389 to $49,402 by the end of the contract,” said RAB in a statement.
In its statement, the RAB also noted the new tentative agreement includes “other measures to enhance employer flexibility.”
Should the 30,000 workers represented by 32BJ ratify the tentative agreement working in 3,000 residential rentals, co-ops and condos, the new contract will extend to April 20, 2018.
The RAB praised the hard work of both sides being able to reach an agreement nine days before the current contract was set to expire.
32BJ’s President, Hector Figueroa, said the union was proud to make life a little bit easier for 30,000 building workers in New York City.
“In a city that has become increasingly unequal, this contract will keep 30,000 building workers on a pathway to the middle class, which will also benefit the communities in which they live.”
Victor P., a doorman and porter for seven years at the Quaker Ridge building on East 21st Street and 3rd Avenue, just issued resident identification cards to co-op owners on Wednesday to present them to other residents manning the entrance in lieu of a strike.
“I’m glad we got a tentative agreement. It would have been tough. I hope this new contract puts a dent into the tale of two cities our mayor has been talking about,” said Victor.
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