The Hudson County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution supporting a new commercial cleaning contract for labor union 32BJ SEIU at last night’s meeting.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Whereas, the collectively bargained agreement covering over 6,500 cleaners in New Jersey who are members of 32BJ SEIU, including over 800 working in Hudson County, is set to expire December 31, 2023,” the resolution says.
“Whereas, many of New Jersey’s office workers were able to work from home during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, these essential building service workers risked their own health to maintain safe and healthy spaces for on-site employees, researchers, and visitors at many valuable New Jersey properties.”
The non-binding measure continues that these workers maintained 140 million square feet of commercial office space statewide, which includes 53 public school districts and 22 high education campuses, such as Hudson County Community College.
Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2), the sponsor of the resolution, was one of several local electeds who attended a 32BJ presser at their headquarters in Newark on Thursday.
“Approved 8-0. Earlier today, I attended the briefing at @32BJSEIU HQ. We need to support them because with inflation they are barely making ends meet. During covid, they lost 26 members. Yet, they still continued servicing their buildings,” he tweeted last night.
As he noted, the resolution was approved unanimously (8-0), with Commissioner Fanny Cedeno (D-7) absent.
Other officials who attended the 32BJ event included Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19), Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, Hoboken Council President Emily Jabbour, Hoboken 5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen, and Jersey City Ward B Councilwoman Mira Prinz-Arey.
I wish Mayor Bhalla would actually care about keeping Hoboken clean.
The rats are running wild.