BRI and 32BJ Begin Contract Negotiations for Hudson Valley Residential Buildings

The Building and Realty Institute of Westchester and the Mid-Hudson Region and 32BJ SEIU have begun negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement covering residential building service workers throughout the region.

The negotiations come ahead of the September 30 expiration of the current four-year agreement between the organizations.

The contract covers employees who provide essential services at residential properties, including superintendents, porters, doormen and women, handypersons and other building service workers. Hundreds of residential buildings in the region participate in the collective bargaining agreement, including rental properties, cooperatives and condominiums.

The outcome of the negotiations will be closely watched by property owners, managing agents, co-op and condominium boards and residents because labor represents a significant component of residential building operating costs.

The current agreement was reached in 2022 and provided wage increases over four years while maintaining employer-funded health benefits and pensions for covered workers.

This year's negotiations take place as residential property owners and managers continue to contend with rising operating expenses, including insurance, utilities, maintenance and building-related costs. At the same time, 32BJ is seeking to protect wages and benefits for the workers responsible for maintaining residential properties throughout the region.

The negotiations therefore have implications beyond the parties at the bargaining table. Changes in wages, benefits and other employment costs can affect building budgets and, ultimately, the expenses borne by rental property owners, condominium owners and cooperative shareholders.

BRI represents property owners and managers in negotiations with 32BJ on behalf of participating buildings in Westchester and the surrounding Hudson Valley.

The previous round of negotiations in 2022 resulted in a four-year agreement covering approximately 1,400 residential building service workers in roughly 500 co-op, condominium and rental apartment buildings across the Mid-Hudson region.

Negotiations on the new agreement are expected to continue ahead of the current contract's September 30 expiration.