Four days after a Jersey City rally calling out luxury developers over affordability, 38 concierges and porters employed by Guardian Services Industries – all 32BJ SEIU members – received a new contract.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“The essential workers who underpin Jersey City’s economic upswing have not received their fair share for far too long. Many have been paid the state’s minimum wage, or just pennies above it, and are offered meager benefits,” 32BJ SEIU New Jersey State Director Ana Maria Hill said in a statement yesterday.
“This unfair treatment of essential workers has made life insecure for working families, and contributed to high turnover in buildings and runaway inequality. This victory shows that when essential workers in Jersey City come together, they can win and build momentum toward creating a more just Jersey City for all. Quality jobs for concierges and porters fosters a skilled, dedicated and professional workforce.”
The union contract secures quality and affordable employer-paid healthcare, employer-paid retirement benefits, an immediate $1/hour pay raise in January 2025, with a $3.25/hour raise overall by the end of the 4-year contract.
Workers will also gain access to 32BJ SEIU’s employer-paid free legal and training benefits in 2025.
The six buildings serviced by Guardian Services Industries are owned by Equity Residential.
Before this contract, many of these residential building workers were paid the state’s minimum wage – $15.13 an hour – or just pennies above it and received meager benefits.
In September, 32BJ SEIU released a report called the “Misdevelopment of Jersey City,” which called out inequality exacerbated by luxury development in the city, and unfair treatment of the essential workers who make the city run.
At the rally, a number of electeds joined 32BJ SEIU in support, including Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2), County Executive Craig Guy, Ward E Councilman James Solomon, former Gov. Jim McGreevey, ex-Board of Education President Mussab Ali, and Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez (D-32), as HCV first reported.
Finally a win win for all I mean could be better considering money involved also to not see why wait for this raise when by the time four years are up economy will be greater. I did security downtown Jersey city area TD corp and the had us working same slightly above by a quarter or so. The raise came in many years later after union came into place our location was literally one of the last to join. Fast forward in 2023 they gave all a raise based on cost of living 🙄 we went from 15 to 20 thanks to schwab who had taken over four months later everyone was unemployed due to everyone wanting to stay remote. So location was isolated. Union had them pay us one week loss restitution . Which helped but they didn’t help much with assuring we get placement elsewhere.
Also in regards to just concierge porters ect security officers should also be acknowledged they work long hours OT being cut they too are essential to all of Jersey city. They deserve fair pay raise accordingly.