Strike Averted for 30,000 NYC Apartment Building Workers

GREAT news out of New York City for 30,000 of the city's doormen, security guards, bellhops, concierges, supervisors and handymen--

It really came down to the wire, but at 12:10 a.m. this morning--just past the formal expiration of the previous contract--SEIU 32BJ apartment building workers won a tentative four-year agreementwith the Realty Advisory Board that includes $547 million in wage and benefit increases. The contract gives the building service workers a

10 percent raise over the next four years,
maintains fully employer-paid family health care coverage,
increases employer contributions to health care by nearly 20%,
maintains benefits including paid sick days, overtime, vacation and
keeps pension benefits secure.

Good Day New York reports on the doormen not walking off the job:

During these negotiations, which began on March 9th, SEIU members showed their unity by voting to strike, attending rallies, telling their stories to the press, lobbying their City Council members, wearing stickers and sending letters to the Realty Advisory Board. "We won because 32BJ members stood shoulder to shoulder," said SEIU 32BJ President Mike Fishman. "I am proud of what we achieved together; we've kept New York a place for working families. "

The next step for the building service workers will be to ratify the contract. In the coming weeks, residential 32BJ members will be receiving ballots in the mail.