A Fair Contract with Significant Innovations
At midnight on Tuesday, April 20, 2010, Michael Fishman, president of Local 32BJ of the Building Service Employees International Union,  and Howard Rothschild, president of the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations, Inc. shook hands on a four year contract agreement that includes pay increases of 2.33% per year. for 32BJ’s 3000 residential apartment building workers in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.

Pledged Savings in Health Costs
The contract further provides that the Health Fund, which is jointly administered by trustees from the Union and from the RAB, will commission a study to help implement annual savings of $70,000,000 or 10% of the Health Plan’s  current average annual expenditures beginning no later than January 1, 2012. 

Employer Contributions Firmly Capped
Caps on employer contributions to the Health and Pension plans during the life of this contract ensure that if, as was the case in 2004, the reserves of either Health or Pension plans should become depleted, employers will not be responsible to make any additional contributions (the opposite was the case in 2004 when employers agreed to substantial, unexpected contributions ($2400 per employee) to rescue the then failing health fund.  This dramatic change in the paradigm ensures employers of certainty in their budgeting for labor during the term of this contract.  All parties are optimistic that no problems will arise, and that the anticipated economies will be easily achieved.

Reduction In Force
In addition, in recognition of the length and the extent of the economic downturn an important phrase has been added to the contract provision regarding Reduction In Force, enabling a building to reduce staff upon submitting proof of financial hardship, provided that no additional work is added to the job descriptions of remaining employees.

A Fair Agreement
The building service workers who are members of Local 32BJ are the best paid service workers in the world; they also have excellent benefits and training opportunities.  And this is as it should be.  These workers  keep our buildings safe and clean. They are part of the community that is our cooperative or condominium. They watch our children grow up; they help us daily in many ways largae and small.  We are all pleased that the current negotiation has produced a contract that is fair to one and all.  

Pattern Agreement
The RAB negotiates a pattern agreement, which each of its residential members with 32BJ employees is then invited to sign,   Copies of the agreement will shortly be sent to your building (or your managing agent).  If your project has six or more employees, your superintendent is a Resident Manager, subject to an agreement that expires June 20th.