Suburban building owners & custodians reach new contract

Suburban office building landlords and the union representing roughly 1,400 janitors reached a new contract Tuesday night that puts workers' wages just shy of their desired rate.

Members of the 32BJ Service Employees International Union and the Building Operators Labor Relations group, which represents the owners of about 170 suburban Philadelphia properties, agreed to raise wages "nearly $2 an hour more over the life of the contract putting them pennies below the $15," the amount the workers called for during a rally last week, according to the union.

Dozens of members of 32BJ Service Employees International Union rallied last week, calling for a wage increase to $15.

With a previous wage of $12.35, the increase falls short of the desired rate but is far more than the 20 cents discussed earlier. The new scale also stands in contrast to the idea that $15 is a "quantum leap," which is how what the leader of the BOLR called that amount last week.

The BOLR did not immediately reply for requests for comment.

The current contract was set to expire at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday. The new 4-year deal – still subject to a ratification vote – averted a strike.

“This is a win win for everyone. Just in time for the holidays, these workers will receive a wage increase that helps them put food on the table and presents underneath the tree,” said Daisy Cruz, 32BJ SEIU Mid-Atlantic Director. “We are happy the building operators are committed to maintaining good jobs that fuel our local economy.”

The custodians who work in Philadelphia, also represented by the SEIU, and the city division of the BOLR reached a new contract agreement earlier this year just 60 minutes before the previous one was set to expire.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal