In Show of Broad Political Support, Speaker Coughlin, Mayors, Council Members, and Other Key NJ Elected Officials Stand With 6,500 Commercial Cleaners’ Fight for a Fair and Just Contract

The elected officials’ display of solidarity with labor came after the passage of the Service Worker Retention bill, which is now in effect

Newark, NJ-In a show of the deep political support 32BJ SEIU enjoys in New Jersey, Assembly Speaker Coughlin, Mayors, Council Members, and other key NJ elected officials pledged their support of 6,500 commercial cleaners as the union members negotiate a new contract. 32BJ union officers and members will provide an overview of their priorities for their new contract, including raising wages and protecting health insurance coverage, strengthening retirement security, and defending work week and hours. Additionally, the elected officials, 32BJ SEIU members, and leaders celebrated the passage of the Service Worker Retention law, which provides tens of thousands of building, airport passenger, and food service workers vital job protections and is now in effect.

“Facts and figures can only convey so much about the dynamics of a contract fight. Today, my fellow commercial cleaners and I provided our elected officials with the real, personal issues at stake in our contract negotiations. Standing shoulder to shoulder with us, Speaker Coughlin and so many other NJ elected leaders made it clear they are ready to fight with us and help us win a fair and just contract, ” shared Ederle Vaughan, a cleaner at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.

“Today, dozens of elected officials heard our members’ message – it’s time to truly recognize the essential work and sacrifices that commercial cleaners and their essential role and will continue to play in our State’s post-pandemic economy. First and foremost, that means an increase in pay so that these essential workers can keep ahead of inflation and the high cost of living. 32BJ will fight and win nothing less for our hard-working members and their families. We also celebrate the implementation of the Service Worker Retention Law, which offers job protections to commercial cleaners and many other building service workers. We thank Speaker Coughlin and all of the elected officials who stand in solidarity with our members,” said Kevin Brown, Executive Vice President of 32BJ and NJ State Director.

“32BJ members helped maintain airports, commercial buildings, and schools during the pandemic at great personal risk,” said NJ Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin. “They deserve a contract that guarantees fair wages, decent benefits, and safe working conditions. We have been proud to partner with them on many workplace issues, including the Worker Retention Law and Healthy Terminals Act. We all learned what “essential worker” truly meant over the last few years, and we should act accordingly.”

The current contract represents the first agreement negotiated since the COVID-19 pandemic transformed office work. These negotiations for New Jersey members are just one in a series of contract talks with the 70,000 members of 32BJ SEIU in states across the East Coast. Thursday’s legislative briefing comes a little more than two months before the December 31 expiration of the agreement that currently covers NJ.

###

With more than 175,000 members in 11 states and Washington DC, including nearly 6,500 commercial cleaners in New Jersey, 32BJ is the largest building service workers union in the country.