By h. nazan ışık—
13 April 2022—
On Wednesday, 13 April thousands of 32BJ SEIU essential property service workers rallied on Park Avenue authorizing their bargaining committee to call for a strike, if they decide it is necessary,
32BJ SEiU members, include doormen, porters, superintendents, concierges and handypersons voted to give the bargaining committee the power to call for a strike if the Real Estate Advisory Board (RAB) do not agree to a new contract. They demanded fair wage increases, fully employer-paid health care for families and no givebacks after 32BJ members demonstrated their commitment and service throughout the two year pandemic.
Many politicians, including U.S Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, U.S Representative Jerry Nadler, Governor of New York Kathy Hochul, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine were there to support them.
Senator Chuck Schumer was like a great conductor. He was bringing the energy level up, making everyone join him.
Schumer: You proved that you are essential! Let’s go…
Schumer: We are……..
(and he raises his arms, and literally conducted the crowd)
Crowd: Essential!
Schumer: We are……
Crowd: Essential!
Schumer: We are……
Crowd: Essential!
Schumer: What we deserve; We deserve compensation!
Schumer: What we deserve?
Crowd: Compensation!
Schumer: What we deserve?
Crowd: Compensation!
Schumer: What we deserve?
Crowd: Compensation!
“We will win this fight!”
Schumer continued rallying the crowd:
“ You showed how essential work is. Senseless work, Low pay work. See need your awards folks. You know what, so many essential workers are black, so many are latino, so many are undocumented immigrants. See want the union movement to give all these people a ladder up. And together we will win this fight.”
Senator Chuck Schumer and 32BJ President Kyle Bragg
32BJ Members, and Kyle Bragg, President of 32BJ joined Senator Schumer:
Altogether: “We will win this fight, we will win this fight”
The chanting was getting louder and louder.
“We will win this fight!”
”We will win this fight!”
“ We will win this fight!”
.
Jerry Nadler was there to show his support too, but he was quieter.
Kyle Bragg, President of 32BJ, introduced Governor Hochul: “ We have someone here with us today who has been with us in our fight for equity in justice, someone who(m) we just this Monday (two days before the rally) have endorsed to be the next Governor of State of New York, our Governor Kathy Hochul!
Hochul: “ You probably thinking, when all the politicians stop talking. I am not going to stop talking until labor wins their fight. I am with you every step all the way.”
She continued: “ During the pandemic who showed up every single day? You showed up. You had our back, you were there when we needed you.
“They call you essential workers. That sounds nice. But if they are essential, why don’t we pay them what they deserve.
“Pay them what they deserve!
Pay them that they deserve!
Pay them what they deserve!”
(She just repeated herself. No chanting!)
“I have your back, I am with you all the way, … Let’s win!”
32BJ members applauded without any chanting, and she left.
Photos copyrighted © h. nazan ışık
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