Building workers rally in Riverdale

More than 100 building workers from Riverdale and other parts of the Bronx, marched from Henry Hudson Parkway and 246th Street to Independence Avenue and 239th Street on March 3, chanting and carrying signs for “fair contracts now” and “retirement with dignity.”

The building workers, members of the 32BJ Service Employee International Union, are negotiating a new contract with The Bronx Realty Advisory Board (BRAB), which represents building owners, before their contract expires at 12:01 a.m. on March 15.

If the parties don’t reach an agreement by the deadline, more than 3,000 apartment building workers, including superintendents, janitors, handypersons, doormen, porters, fire persons, elevator operators and garbage handlers, will strike.

The strike would affect about 1,000 buildings in the Bronx, 160 of them located in Riverdale.

The current contract includes pensions and a health care plans paid for by employers. However, according to a spokesperson from 32BJ, BRAB’s proposal would require workers to contribute to their health care costs and would substitute pensions for 401 (k) savings plans.

William Schur, president of BRAB,contends that the union has unfairly characterized its proposal.

BRAB “is in no way seeking to eliminate health or pensions benefits from their Union employees,” he wrote in a statement.

“BRAB has requested a shift from a defined benefit pension format to a defined contribution pension format. On health we have requested ideas to reduce escalating costs of providing health benefits,” he continued.

But Angel Ortega, superintendent at a building located on 246th Street, said building workers in the Bronx don’t get paid enough to contribute to their health care plans.

“We get paid $17 and hour,” he said.

Mr. Ortega, who has worked in Riverdale for three years, said he has a positive relationship with all the residents in the building where he works and considers them family. He said a strike would have a negative impact on residents in affected buildings.

“Packages won’t get received. Tenants would have to take their own garbage out,” he said.

State Sen. Adriano Espaillat, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and Councilman Oliver Koppell joined the protest to show support for the workers.

“These are the people who keep our buildings nice and clean,” Mr. Dinowitz said. “They deserve a decent contract.”

32BJ and BRAB are expected to meet again on March 10.