After authorizing a strike earlier this week, unionized workers in New York City’s residential buildings appear to have reached a tentative labor agreement between Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations (RAB) and 32BJ SEIU (32BJ).
The current contract, which will expire at midnight on April 20, covers more than 33,000 residential building service workers across Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island, including doorpersons, porters, handypersons, and building superintendents, in more than 3,000 residential buildings.
“This agreement reflects the economic realities facing the residential real estate sector, including the likelihood of 0% rent increases on stabilized units, regulatory overreach, and escalating operating costs for co-ops and condos,” said Howard Rothschild, President of the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations, in a statement. “Amid these headwinds, we are proud to have reached a fair agreement that supports both the industry and its valued workers. We thank Manny Pastreich, 32BJ, and the residential building service workers for their constructive collaboration throughout this process.”
“This is one of the largest agreements in New York City, and it’s an honor — I know for our side — to be part of this and set the standard for so many people who take care of the residents of this city,” said 32BJ President Manny Pastreich in a press conference. “This contract has meaning to the residents, I know it has meaning to the building owners, the co-ops, the condos, and I know it has meaning to the 1.5 million residents in 32BJ buildings.”
Highlights of the new agreement include increases in wages and pension benefits, a training pathway for new employees, enhanced awareness of legal assistance in immigration situations, and continued healthcare for building service workers.
Over the four-year agreement, the weighted average annual wage increase equals 3.48%, which will bring the total wage for a typical employee to more than $71,000 by the end of the contract. The average annual wage and benefit increase will be 3.01% over the four-year contract.
The tentative agreement is subject to ratification by both 32BJ and RAB board, and once it is ratified, the contract will extend to April 20, 2030.
