Kyle Bragg

It’s no secret that essential workers have borne the brunt of the pandemic in New York City. And 32BJ represents 85,000 of those workers, including residential building maintenance workers; airport workers; security guards; window cleaners; and janitors in schools, stadiums, theaters and office buildings.

Thousands of 32BJ members suddenly found themselves out of work when office buildings and performance venues closed last year, struggling to make ends meet and keep their health insurance.

“We immediately went to work with the [real estate] industry and made sure that our members were protected during this pandemic,” Bragg said. “We worked out new safety protocols, and a lot has changed with our members in terms of [personal protective equipment] and working conditions. We’ve made life not only bearable, but comfortable for millions of New Yorkers.”

The union negotiated extended health care for laid-off members; callback extensions in contracts that allow owners to bring workers back, even after a layoff of several months or a year; and an enhanced severance package for retiring workers.

It has also spent the last several years organizing workers at all three of the major tri-state airports, and negotiating better pay and working conditions for them. During 2020, Bragg lobbied the New York State Legislature to pass the Healthy Terminals Act, which will provide health care to 12,000 airport workers. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the bill into law in January.

Health care costs have become a significant issue for 32BJ members, particularly during the pandemic.

“We’ve been extremely focused on dealing with out-of-line hospital pricing that could go into pockets of workers,” Bragg said. “We will continue to fight back against these hospital corporations and their subjective pricings. Our members should not have to suffer lost wages because of the high hospital prices that are being charged to our health funds.”

32BJ has also organized a significant push to vaccinate its members, many of whom are hesitant to get the coronavirus vaccine.

“A large portion of the membership wanted access and wanted to be vaccinated, and then there’s a large portion of the membership that sits on the fence,” Bragg noted.—R.B.R.