Thousands of school cleaners and handypersons received some good news over the weekend that they had won a long-fought battle for pension improvements, better wages and other labor benefits.
Members of 32BJ SEIU, the union that represents NYC public school cleaners and handyworkers, reached a tentative agreement for a new labor contract with New York City School Support Services (NYCSSS). The nonprofit organization contracts with the NYC Department of Education for cleaning and maintenance services.
The agreement will provide more than 5,000 school-building service workers with a 10% pension benefits improvement, something the union said was a “top demand” since they rallied at City Hall Park on May 28.
This is the workers’ first pension increase since 2019.
Shirley Aldebol, 32BJ SEIU executive president and director of the schools division, has been vocal about the union’s demands and attended the May 28 rally.
“We stood strong and demanded a pension improvement to ensure our members will be able to retire with dignity as inflation and the high cost of living in New York City threaten to erode their retirement security,” She said.
Workers received other benefits through the new contract, too, including $3.72 per hour wage increases over the course of four years, a lump sum health savings payment of $3,000 and the continuation of vital health benefits.
School cleaners and handypersons who are part of 32BJ ratified the agreement at a membership meeting on June 15. It goes into effect on July 1.
Workers were prepared to go on strike last month if an agreement was reached before June 30, when their current contract expires.
Donna Perez, a 24-year handyperson in the union, explained why the pension improvement is so important.
“As the folks who have cared for New York City’s kids and kept their spaces of learning safe and clean for decades, we have a right to retire with dignity,” Perez said. “We should not spend our retirement working odd jobs because our bills are too high and our pensions can’t keep up with the rising cost of living.”
Michael Stephenson, a cleaner at Q-439 in Queens, agreed.
“Getting this pension increase is a long time coming,” he said. “This is important for my future, I’ve been here for 30 years. But it’s about more than just me. This is also for the younger generation who will also benefit from this.”
School cleaners and handypersons perform a variety of duties within the city Department of Education – the country’s largest public school system. Jobs include heavy-duty and comprehensive deep cleaning and maintenance tasks, painting the facilities, and fixing or replacing furniture. In many schools, handypeople run various systems within the buildings, including the boilers.
Come summer, they also prepare school buildings for the coming school year — often toiling in buildings that lack air conditioning.
As per their current contract expiring at the end of the month, NYC public school cleaners earn $29.90 an hour, while handypersons receive $32.62 an hour.
