The Bronx Realty Advisory Board stopped
a looming strike that would have had almost 3,000 apartment building workers out on the picket lines.
The workers are the people who sweep building floors, sort your mail, fix a leak and more. They work in almost 900 buildings across the Bronx, including at Skyview apartments in Riverdale where they were protesting Tuesday.
The union 32BJ SEIU asked for more money that would be comparable to what you can make in Manhattan to do the same job.
At the 11th hour Tuesday night, the union and the real estate board came to a deal. Custodians, security guards and more will now get a raise of $102.80 per week over four years. Not only that, the Bronx Realty Advisory Board also agreed to protect all benefits and secure pension for these workers.
Billy Schur, the president of the Bronx Realty Advisory Board, responded with a statement that reads in part, "We’re thrilled that we reached an agreement with SEIU Local 32BJ in contract negotiations. We are proud to offer its members in the Bronx a fair compensation and benefits package. Thank you to all involved, especially to building staff members who have worked so hard over the last four years in the most difficult of circumstances.”
The deal affects 2,700 residential building workers across the Bronx.