NJ BUILDING CLEANERS LAUNCH FIGHT TO PROTECT GOOD JOBS AS STATEWIDE CONTRACT TALKS OPEN
– Union Proposals Focus on Preserving Good Jobs for a Stronger New Jersey Economy –
Newark, N.J. – October 18, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — More than 150 building cleaners representing 7,000 cleaners from across the state converged upon the Hilton at Newark Penn Station on Tuesday morning as contract talks began between their union, 32BJ SEIU, and an association of cleaning contractors for office buildings. The union is negotiating with the contractors at a time when asking rents on office space are up in the state, to the benefit of the owners who pay the contractors. 32BJ is seeking to preserve good jobs for a stronger New Jersey economy.
“We are asking for a fair contract to ensure that thousands of hardworking New Jerseyans get the wages and benefits they need to support their families, and that our state’s building owners and tenants get the professional, quality service they want,” said Kevin Brown, New Jersey State Director for 32BJ SEIU. “A win for our workers will be a win for the state because New Jersey’s future prosperity depends on working people having good jobs that enable them to contribute to economic growth.”
New Jersey building cleaners represented by 32BJ earn $11.50 an hour in Bergen and Mercer counties, which comes to $23,920 annually for those working full-time. Those working along the Hudson waterfront and in Newark earn $14 an hour, or $29,120 for full-time, and for those in other parts of the state the wage is $12 an hour, $24,960 full-time. They also receive health benefits and paid sick and vacation days, and some receive a pension. In contrast to their modest annual wages, the 2010 median household income in New Jersey was $67,681.
“I work hard every day to keep my building safe and sanitary for the owners and the office workers who depend on us,” said Adelia Teixeira, who cleans an office building in downtown Newark. “But even working as hard as I do, it is hard to support my family on my wages in an expensive state like New Jersey.”
New Jersey’s commercial real estate industry is a $4.5-billion industry. Its major real estate owners include highly profitable companies such as Mack-Cali, Hartz Mountain, Johnson & Johnson and Merck. Its cleaning contractors include some of the biggest in the nation and the state such as American Building Maintenance (ABM), Allan Industries and CRS Facility Services.
“Our campaign for a fair contract in New Jersey is part of a larger fight this fall by 60,000 building service workers from Connecticut to New York and Washington, D.C.,” said Valarie Long, Vice President of 32BJ. “We are fighting on behalf of all working families, to turn back the tide of growing income inequality that is undermining our society and our future.”
32BJ’s bargaining team and cleaning contractors began their contract talks at the Gateway Hilton at Newark Penn Station. The contract for the 7,000 building cleaners expires at 12:01 a.m. on January 1st.
With more than 120,000 members in eight states and Washington, D.C., including more than 9,000 in New Jersey, 32BJ SEIU is the largest union of property service workers in the country and one of the fastest-growing unions in the state.
Contat:
Maia Davis: 201-396-4444
212-388-3696
Eugenio Villasante: 212-539-2940
646-285-1087
