PHILADELPHIA BUILDING SERVICE WORKERS AVERT STRIKE AND REACH NEW CONTRACT PROTECTING MORE THAN 2,600 GOOD JOBS

October 19, 2011

by Pennsylvania RealEstateRama

– New Contract Provides Raises and Maintains Healthcare –

Philadelphia, PA – October 19, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The 32BJ Bargaining Committee tonight announced a tentative agreement on a four-year contract, subject to ratification, covering more than 2,600 of Philadelphia’s building service workers that provide wage increases and maintains employer-paid health care coverage. Over the next four years, the workers will receive an average cumulative pay increase of nearly 7 percent and a $600 bonus the first year.

“The new contract is not just an important victory for building workers and working families, but for our economy and our city,” said Wayne MacManiman, 32BJ Mid-Atlantic Director. “In these tough times the workers who keep Philadelphia’s top corporate offices clean and maintained have stood up for the good middle class jobs our economy needs.”

The four-year agreement improves wages and maintains employer paid health care and pension. Union members must still ratify the tentative agreement.

“These are the kind of good jobs that our communities and our country need to keep our middle class strong,” said Valarie Long, 32BJ Vice President. “This victory sends a message to the top 1%: The 99% still believe in the American Dream.”

Philadelphia property service workers maintain corporate offices in Philadelphia, including Liberty Place, the Comcast Center and Commerce Square.

“I am happy for this agreement,” said Angel Castro who has been working in Center City for more than 11 years. “Our victory is going to inspire a lot folks out there who are looking for ways to work together and make this economy work for all.”

The agreement was reached on October 18th at 11:00pm between the building service workers union 32BJ and the Building Owners Labor Relations, Inc. (BOLR), an organization representing Philadelphia’s major commercial office building owners, managers, and cleaning companies such as ABM Industries, Inc., The Arthur Jackson Company, and Shellville Facility Services.

More than 60,000 property service workers from Hartford, Conn., to Virginia are united in a campaign to secure new contracts that raise wage and benefit standards.
With more than 120,000 members in nine states, including 7,000 in Philadelphia, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property services union in the country.

For more information, visit www.StandWithBuildingWorkers.org

Contact:
Eugenio H. Villasante 646 285 1087
Julie Karant 646 584 9001