SEIU 32BJ
Encyclopedia
SEIU 32BJ is the largest property service workers union in the United States, representing more than 120,000 members. Its members are office cleaners, security officers, doormen, porters, maintenance workers, bus drivers and aides, window cleaners, school cleaners and food service workers. 32BJ is based in New York City
, and operates in 8 states and Washington, D.C. It is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union
, a labor union representing over 2 million workers.
(AFL) chartered a few early janitor locals but remained chiefly concerned with more skilled trades.
In 1921, seven small local unions led by William F. Quesse
of the Chicago Flat Janitors received an AFL charter as the Building Service Employees International Union. By 1928 BSEIU membership had grown to 7,000 members across 50 small locals, with most of the strength still centered in Chicago
.
The Great Depression caused many BSEIU locals to fall by the wayside, and the situation in New York City was especially hard. Local 32, Superintendents and Janitors, suffered a wage cut. Locals 58 and 51 were dwindling in members, and Local 14, Harlem Superintendents, had folded. New York janitors and others were working under conditions the Chicago Flat Janitors had won 20 years earlier.
BSEIU Local 58 disintegrated in the face of a 1933 membership revolt led by elevator operators David Sullivan, Thomas Shortman, Arthur Harckham, and Thomas Young. The 500 dissenting members applied to BSEIU, now led by Jerry Horan
, but were turned down. Joined by Local 32, they formed an independent union in February 1934.
In March 1934, Thomas Young and James Bambrick led the union’s first successful strike against a Seventh Avenue building, and by mid-April Bambrick succeeded in obtaining a BSEIU charter for the new local, and Local 32B was born.
Following a successful strike in the garment district
during November 1934, 32B began rapidly growing in membership, gaining an estimated 4,000 new members in less than three days during the strike, and membership stood at somewhere around 6,000 by the spring of 1935.
After another successful strike in 1936 which paralyzed residential and commercial buildings citywide, 32B was established as one of the most powerful trade unions in New York City. By 1937, less than three years old, Local 32B counted some 10,000 members and shifted the balance of BSEIU power away from Chicago.
By the summer of 1938 Local 32B's employment bureau had placed over 19,000 workers in the midst of the Great Depression, and became so busy that it was forced to set up its own office at 421 Ninth Avenue.
However, the New York police
and the U.S. Labor Department
began investigating BSEIU locals in New York City for connections to Jerry Horan
and George Scalise, who was later convicted of embezzlement and forgery in 1940.
In 1941, James Bambrick, 32B president since its founding, was forced to resign his union post and later served a sentence for embezzlement. Secretary-Treasurer David Sullivan
, who had battled for financial integrity and safeguards, was elected to replace Bambrick.
The outbreak of World War II
in 1941 offered several opportunities to polish the union's tarnished image. Local 32B, now led by David Sullivan as president, kept in the forefront of New York's defense effort. Through member contributions, an ambulance was donated to the Red Cross, and a bomber plane, "The Spirit of 32B," to the Air Corps
. War bond
contributions totaled over $325,000, and Local 32B alone gave $75,000 to the $4-million AFL-CIO
"labor war chest."
1949 marked the establishment of 32B's college scholarship
program for members and their children, one of the first union scholarships in the nation. The first grants, each worth $1,200 per year for four years, were given for use at either Columbia University
or Barnard College
. The program would later be broadened to additional schools and supplemented by additional grants.
In 1951, the union's Welfare Trust Fund began providing comprehensive coverage of members and their families for hospital and surgical benefits and life insurance, jointly administered by the union and employers.
By 1954 Local 32B membership had risen to 36,000 workers employed in 5,000 commercial and residential buildings and 22 department stores. To mark its 20th anniversary, the union commissioned a television documentary depicting the lives and work of building service workers, entitled The 32B Story. It would later be used by the AFL-CIO
, the United States Information Agency
, and a number of international unions in the United States and abroad.
In 1958 the union concluded a merger with Superintendents and Resident Managers Local 219, adding 900 members to the local's ranks.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and operates in 8 states and Washington, D.C. It is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union
Service Employees International Union
Service Employees International Union is a labor union representing about 1.8 million workers in over 100 occupations in the United States , and Canada...
, a labor union representing over 2 million workers.
Early Organizing
Between 1902 and 1920, attempts were made to form janitor’s unions, but disadvantages were overwhelming. The American Federation of LaborAmerican Federation of Labor
The American Federation of Labor was one of the first federations of labor unions in the United States. It was founded in 1886 by an alliance of craft unions disaffected from the Knights of Labor, a national labor association. Samuel Gompers was elected president of the Federation at its...
(AFL) chartered a few early janitor locals but remained chiefly concerned with more skilled trades.
In 1921, seven small local unions led by William F. Quesse
William Quesse
William Fred Quesse was an American labor leader and president of the Building Service Employees International Union, the precursor of the Service Employees International Union, from 1921 to 1927. He was the union's founding president.-Early life:His parents were Christ and Shirley Quesse, and he...
of the Chicago Flat Janitors received an AFL charter as the Building Service Employees International Union. By 1928 BSEIU membership had grown to 7,000 members across 50 small locals, with most of the strength still centered in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
The Great Depression caused many BSEIU locals to fall by the wayside, and the situation in New York City was especially hard. Local 32, Superintendents and Janitors, suffered a wage cut. Locals 58 and 51 were dwindling in members, and Local 14, Harlem Superintendents, had folded. New York janitors and others were working under conditions the Chicago Flat Janitors had won 20 years earlier.
BSEIU Local 58 disintegrated in the face of a 1933 membership revolt led by elevator operators David Sullivan, Thomas Shortman, Arthur Harckham, and Thomas Young. The 500 dissenting members applied to BSEIU, now led by Jerry Horan
Jerry Horan
Jeremiah J. Horan was an organized crime figure and President of the Building Service Employees International Union from 1927 until his death in 1937...
, but were turned down. Joined by Local 32, they formed an independent union in February 1934.
In March 1934, Thomas Young and James Bambrick led the union’s first successful strike against a Seventh Avenue building, and by mid-April Bambrick succeeded in obtaining a BSEIU charter for the new local, and Local 32B was born.
Following a successful strike in the garment district
Garment District
Garment District has several uses including:*Garment District, Manhattan - in New York City*Garment District - in Cambridge, Massachusetts*Los Angeles Garment District, also known as the Fashion District*Garment District...
during November 1934, 32B began rapidly growing in membership, gaining an estimated 4,000 new members in less than three days during the strike, and membership stood at somewhere around 6,000 by the spring of 1935.
After another successful strike in 1936 which paralyzed residential and commercial buildings citywide, 32B was established as one of the most powerful trade unions in New York City. By 1937, less than three years old, Local 32B counted some 10,000 members and shifted the balance of BSEIU power away from Chicago.
Crisis and Change
The union - now a budding power in New York politics - began to test its legislative strength. Measures unfriendly to Local 32B members were publicly criticized in radio and print, and efforts were made to prevent their passage.By the summer of 1938 Local 32B's employment bureau had placed over 19,000 workers in the midst of the Great Depression, and became so busy that it was forced to set up its own office at 421 Ninth Avenue.
However, the New York police
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
and the U.S. Labor Department
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
began investigating BSEIU locals in New York City for connections to Jerry Horan
Jerry Horan
Jeremiah J. Horan was an organized crime figure and President of the Building Service Employees International Union from 1927 until his death in 1937...
and George Scalise, who was later convicted of embezzlement and forgery in 1940.
In 1941, James Bambrick, 32B president since its founding, was forced to resign his union post and later served a sentence for embezzlement. Secretary-Treasurer David Sullivan
David Sullivan (labor leader)
David Sullivan was an American labor leader and president of the Building Service Employees International Union , the precursor to the Service Employees International Union, from 1960 to 1971.-Early life:...
, who had battled for financial integrity and safeguards, was elected to replace Bambrick.
The outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1941 offered several opportunities to polish the union's tarnished image. Local 32B, now led by David Sullivan as president, kept in the forefront of New York's defense effort. Through member contributions, an ambulance was donated to the Red Cross, and a bomber plane, "The Spirit of 32B," to the Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
. War bond
War bond
War bonds are debt securities issued by a government for the purpose of financing military operations during times of war. War bonds generate capital for the government and make civilians feel involved in their national militaries...
contributions totaled over $325,000, and Local 32B alone gave $75,000 to the $4-million AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
"labor war chest."
Coming of Age
On September 4, 1945, Local 32B struck against New York's Realty Advisory Board (RAB), requiring Governor Thomas E. Dewey to intercede. The result was a milestone ten-year "peace pact," with regular re-openers each year and wage boosts totaling some $7 million. An outstanding provision of the contract was an antidiscrimination clause requiring employers to hire and promote without regard to race or color.1949 marked the establishment of 32B's college scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
program for members and their children, one of the first union scholarships in the nation. The first grants, each worth $1,200 per year for four years, were given for use at either Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
or Barnard College
Barnard College
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough...
. The program would later be broadened to additional schools and supplemented by additional grants.
In 1951, the union's Welfare Trust Fund began providing comprehensive coverage of members and their families for hospital and surgical benefits and life insurance, jointly administered by the union and employers.
By 1954 Local 32B membership had risen to 36,000 workers employed in 5,000 commercial and residential buildings and 22 department stores. To mark its 20th anniversary, the union commissioned a television documentary depicting the lives and work of building service workers, entitled The 32B Story. It would later be used by the AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
, the United States Information Agency
United States Information Agency
The United States Information Agency , which existed from 1953 to 1999, was a United States agency devoted to "public diplomacy". In 1999, USIA's broadcasting functions were moved to the newly created Broadcasting Board of Governors, and its exchange and non-broadcasting information functions were...
, and a number of international unions in the United States and abroad.
In 1958 the union concluded a merger with Superintendents and Resident Managers Local 219, adding 900 members to the local's ranks.
32BJ Presidents
- James J. Bambrick (1934–1941), first president of Local 32B
- David SullivanDavid Sullivan (labor leader)David Sullivan was an American labor leader and president of the Building Service Employees International Union , the precursor to the Service Employees International Union, from 1960 to 1971.-Early life:...
(1941–1960) - Thomas Shortman (1960–1972)
- Arthur L. Harckham (1972–1976)
- John J. Sweeney (1976–1981), oversaw merger of Local 32J
- Gus BevonaGus BevonaGus Bevona was an American labor leader who served starting in 1981 as head of Local 32B-32J of the Service Employees International Union, who helped his local's elevator operators and janitors who work in New York City commercial and residential buildings some of the best paid in the country...
(1981–1999) - Mike Fishman (2000–present)