Bronx NY: SEIU 32/BJ walking off the job, 4,000 now on strike!

UPDATED: Strike Avoided->Bronx, NY: Victory! SEIU 32BJ comes to terms for better contract after strike is called

According to NY1 on my TV, the story hasn't made it to the web page yet

Negotiations between Service Employees International Union's Local 32BJ, representing 4,000 Bronx workers, and the Bronx Realty Advisory Board, representing landlords, which were resumed today have broken down.

UPDATE (2/20/08) from NY1:

Bronx Service Employees Will Go On Strike
The local union of 4,000 residential building workers in the Bronx will go on strike Thursday morning.

The Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ said that talks with the Bronx Realty Advisory Board and independent building owners broke down.

About 300 residential buildings in the borough will be affected. The union includes maintenance workers, doormen, and porters.

Members say they want a pay increase and secure health insurance.

NY1 put out calls to the Bronx Realty Advisory Board but did not get a response.

Heres a story that was released before the strike was called, from News12 this morning:

Play the video

(03/19/08) SOUNDVIEW - Tenants in 500 Bronx buildings may soon have to throw out their own trash, go without repairs and open their own doors if contract talks fail Wednesday.

Nearly 4,000 Bronx building superintendents, porters, maintenance workers and doormen with the SEIU Local 32BJ are threatening to walk off the job.

The union has said it has until midnight, an extension from a March 14 deadline, to hammer out a deal with the Bronx Realty Advisory Board, which represents property owners.

The union claims workers in the borough are getting paid about $10 per hour, while their counterparts in other boroughs are being paid nearly twice that amount.

Workers are also demanding pension increases and health care benefits that are fully funded by employers.

SEIU Local 32BJ maintains the Bronx's real estate industry is booming, but workers who make it possible haven't seen the benefits.

I wish the workers good luck in their struggle, they are just looking for a living wage, it took $50 to fill my tank today, the tolls just got higher and now the local electric utility, (GIANT)Con(glomerate) Edison is getting a 5% hike, thats average of $4 a month for each household.