Update: BRAB officials told the Bronx Times that both sides left the bargaining table Monday — the fifth such session during ongoing contract negotiations — without an agreement. Officials from 32BJ SEIU union told the Times that workers are preparing for a strike, if a negotiation is not reached before Wednesday’s deadline.
Last Wednesday, Bronx building service workers — a 32BJ SEIU union workforce of door attendants, superintendents and porters — made it known that they intend to strike if they do not receive a fair contract from Bronx Realty Advisory Board (BRAB) before a midnight deadline on March 14.
Since that rally on the steps of the Bronx Supreme Court on March 9, both sides have told the Bronx Times that talks are progressing as both parties expect to be at the bargaining table all day Monday.
One of the big changes to ongoing negotiations, BRAB officials told the Bronx Times, was the withdrawal of three proposals that had been a sticking point in contract talks including limiting worker health coverage to 5-star centers, a separate contract for superintendents and modifying the “just cause” discipline standard for superintendents.
The current contract covers 1,404 workers at 433 co-ops, condos and apartment buildings. But the negotiations also impact 374 buildings and 950 other workers who are covered by a linked “Bronx Master Independent Agreement.” A further 87 buildings and 358 members are covered by separate contracts that are indirectly impacted, according to 32BJ SEIU.
The soon-to-expire contract was collectively bargained before the pandemic in 2019.
According to BRAB — founded in the 1940s to provide full labor representation to owners of Bronx residential buildings whose maintenance employees are members of 32BJ SEIU — there is still disagreement regarding wage proposals.
“We entered into today’s round of negotiations with every intention of addressing both our impending contract deadline and industry-wide…
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