The Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations (RAB) and Local 32B-32J, Service Employees International Union, AFL-CIO reached an agreement on the terms of the 2000 Apartment Building Agreement last month thus averting a job action that could have impacted negatively on the real estate community.
The agreement, due to expire on the first night of Passover and eve of Good Friday could have been devastating to families expecting to enjoy their traditional festivities. Instead, both sides approved continuation of the existing agreement with the following modifications, subject to ratification by the membership of the Union:
TERM: The Agreement shall be effective as of April 21, 2000 and shall expire on April 20, 2003.
WAGE INCREASES:
(a) OTHERS:
(b) HANDYPERSONS: The minimum weekly wage differential shall be increased by $2.00 effective April 21, 2000, $2.00 per week effective April 21, 2001 and $2.00 per week effective April 21, 2002.
(c ) SUPERINDENTS:
FUND CONTRIBUTIONS:
ANNUITY FUND INCREASES: Effective January 1, 2002 - $1.00 per week.
Effective January 1, 2003 - $1.00 per week.
The current annuity fund will be changed to a 401(k) plan. The Employer will make contributions to such plan in the same amount as was made into the annuity fund and the employees may elect to contribute amounts to such a plan by payroll deductions to the extent permitted by law. The rate or amount of payroll deduction may be changed once a year.
MOVING EXPENSES: The moving expense allowance for Superintendents who are terminated during their trial period is increased from $500 to $750.
SUPERINTENDENTS APARTMENT: The time to vacate for Superintendents who are terminated from employment and choose not to file a grievance concerning such termination is increased from thirty (30) days to sixty (60) days.
SUPERINTENDENTS APARTMENT: The value of the apartment and services provided to a Superintendent (gas, electric and business phone) shall not be treated as income, to the extent permitted by law.
LEAVES OF ABSENCE: The RAB will encourage Employers to cooperate in granting leaves of absence for Union business.
NO DISCRIMINATION: The no discrimination provision shall be modified to conform with the Commercial Building Agreement which provides for arbitration of such claims.
PENSION: The maximum pension is raised from $1,000 per month to $1,150 per month effective September 1, 2000. In addition, employees who are 62 years of age and have twenty-five (25) years of service may retire with a full pension, i.e., no reduction of benefit for early retirement for such employees.
Employees currently receiving retirement benefits, who retired prior to January 1, 2000, will receive a thirteenth check during the year 2000.
TRAINING: The parties will recommend to the Trustees of the Training fund that they take all necessary steps to implement an innovative curriculum of new computer and internet training courses, including developing on-line instructional components designed to enhance the efficiency of the work force, and to facilitate the use of the internet in providing participant benefit information. The Fund will provide all participants who successfully complete the courses with vouchers good for purchasing computers and related materials integral to this computer based initiative.
The parties will also recommend to the Trustees that they form a joint committee with the industry to review and expand the training school curriculum in order to develop a more efficient building service work force.
In order to fund the continued operation of the Training Fund, and to provide for the above computer initiative, the employers will contribute the amount of $228.61 to the Fund on July 1, 2000 and an additional $228.61, if necessary, at another time during this Agreement. For the quarter beginning July 1, 2000, the Health Fund contribution shall be reduced by $228.61 on a one-time basis and will be reduced, if necessary, during a subsequent quarter during the course of this Agreement by $228.61 on a one-time basis.
HEALTH FUND: The parties will recommend to the Trustees that they take all necessary steps to expand and improve the dental plan to increase the panel of available dentists which can be used by the participants. They will also recommend that the panel of available physicians be expanded, and that the current life insurance be increased from $35,000 to $40,000.
NEW ORGANIZATION: The RAB and the Union will establish a joint committee from all sectors of the industry to review and analyze prevailing market conditions, including wage and rental rates and to develop procedures for resolving Union organizational and representation disputes to minimize disruption and conflict and to promote stable and efficient labor relations and labor conditions.
RESIDENT MANAGERS AND SUPERINTENDENTS AGREEMENT: The 1997 Resident Managers and Superintendents Agreement which shall be effective June 21, 2000 through June 20, 2003 shall be modified in the same manner as this Agreement with the same increases but on the effective dates of June 21, 2000, June 21, 2001 and June 21, 2002.
LANGUAGE CHANGES: In addition to the above changes, there are several date changes and language changes of a technical nature which will appear in the new agreement. NYARM will publish these changes as soon as they are issued.