32BJ cleaners strike in the diamond district

Midtown building cleaners traded in their brooms and bleach for picket signs Wednesday to protest wage cuts, health insurance cuts and job losses. Dozens of workers and supporters gathered outside an office building at 529 Fifth Avenue to support six striking workers – five cleaning workers and a fire safety supervisor – all of whom are members of 32BJ SEIU, the union that represents real estate service providers in NYC.

The striking workers had their pay cut in half, to $16 an hour, and their health insurance was canceled in June after the building they work in was owned by a new landlord last year. Four union security guards lost their jobs this year. Almost all of the workers have worked in the building for decades.

One of the striking workers is Ardiana Pllumbaj. Like her colleagues, she is calling on L&J Janitorial, the cleaning company hired by the new building owner, to come to the negotiating table and negotiate a fair contract.

“We are striking because our new employer refuses to negotiate with our union,” the mother of two said. “Our rights as workers must be respected. I have been a member of 32BJ for 18 years and have never experienced such disregard for my worker rights.” The union filed an unfair labor practice lawsuit with the National Labor Relations Board on Monday to challenge their employer’s alleged refusal to negotiate with workers. Read more in amNY, watch News 12’s video and follow 32BJ for updates!