{"id":741384,"date":"2026-04-20T18:49:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T18:49:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/741384\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T18:49:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T18:49:16","slug":"after-dodging-massive-strike-a-major-nyc-union-struggles-to-dodge-criticism-about-how-it-represents-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/741384\/","title":{"rendered":"After dodging massive strike, a major NYC union struggles to dodge criticism about how it represents workers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite achieving a tentative labor contract agreement<\/a> last week, a subset of the city\u2019s unionized residential building service workforce shared concerns about the massive union\u2019s representation of its rank-and-file members.<\/p>\n

The Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations (RAB) and the union 32BJ SEIU reached a late-inning agreement on April 17 that narrowly avoided a strike, which would have seen thousands of essential building workers walk off the job, leaving trash uncollected, dirty lobbies, and no one to sort packages or make minor building repairs.<\/p>\n

But longtime union members told amNewYork that they were less concerned about the union\u2019s fight for a fair contract and more about the organization\u2019s willingness to enforce its already hard-won terms fairly.<\/p>\n

One member, who spoke under the condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation, told amNewYork that he thought the union cared more about its public appearance, rather than being a true advocate for its rank-and-file members.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u200aSo 32BJ, they pretend like: We\u2019re doing this for you people, for our members, for our workers,\u201d the union member said. \u201cBut when we have legit complaints about things, harassment at work, harassment due to favoritism, medical issues, disability, they\u2019re nowhere to be found. There\u2019s a sense that they usually side with management.\u201d<\/p>\n

Representatives from 32BJ SEIU have not yet responded to requests for comment.\n<\/p>\n

Union members against each other in court case<\/p>\n

Multiple members and retired members described an, at times, adversarial relationship with the union, especially when differences with building management came to blows \u2014 sometimes in court.<\/p>\n

Michael Belvin, a longtime porter with Electchester Management and 32BJ union member for 28 years, sued his employer in 2017 over what he said amounted to years of a racist and hostile work environment. Belvin, who is Black, described being greeted with stuffed gorillas attached to his locker, racial slurs, and management openly making light of racial violence.<\/p>\n

Belvin told amNewYork that he felt sandbagged by the union during the lawsuit that he and fellow union member, Michael Mayers, brought against Electchester Management.\n<\/p>\n

Belvin said their shop steward, who represented union members from their building, spoke out against him and Mayers in court.\n<\/p>\n

\u201c\u200aAre you kidding me?\u201d Belvin said. \u201cThat you would come down here and testify against the members that put their trust in you, for management. And the union allowed them to go and they kept him as a shop steward.\u201d<\/p>\n

The lawsuit went on for years. Court documents showed that the union shop steward for Belvin and Mayers testified that Belvin, contrary to the allegations, had the one being discriminatory and bullying other union members \u2014 an accusation Belvin denied.<\/p>\n

Still, a judge found enough evidence to corroborate Belvin and Mayers\u2019 claims<\/a> that Electchester Management created a hostile work environment, despite the perceived lack of support from their union representation. However, according to court documents, the suit\u2019s claims did not do enough to support a judgment of discrimination or retaliation.<\/p>\n

Mayer\u2019s claims of retaliation appeared stronger in court documents. Electchester Management terminated Mayer\u2019s employment after he took a period of time off on disability to seek treatment for leukemia. However, management miscalculated the time Mayers was out of work under the union\u2019s collective bargaining agreement.<\/p>\n

Electchester Management fired Mayer in 2015 because the company incorrectly assumed that Mayers used more than the allotted time for a leave of absence to get treatment for his cancer. In reality, Mayers used PTO in addition to his protected leave of absence and was subsequently reinstated.<\/p>\n

But Mayers told amNewYork that he was encouraged to give up when he spoke with 32BJ SEIU representatives about his wrongful termination \u2014 which happened around two months after he filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).<\/p>\n

\u201cThe union told me, \u2018Oh no, Mike, they got you. You\u2019re fired. You\u2019re fired,\u2019\u201d Mayers said.\n<\/p>\n

He told amNewYork that he believed it was retaliation for the discrimination complaint he brought against his employer.\n<\/p>\n

\u201c\u200aThey were eager to fire me because I had a case in there against them,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n

Mayers said that the entire ordeal took him to a dark place.\n<\/p>\n

\u201c\u200aI ain\u2019t gonna lie, I thought it was the end,\u201d Mayers said. \u201cI mean, I\u2019m contemplating like, I need to end it man \u2014this is gonna be a slow death. This is how I felt, you know, I got kids and grandkids. I mean, I have something to live for. But that was just a thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

Online, members have also been outspoken, with many venting their grievances against the union in the comments sections of building service workers\u2019 posts.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s unfortunate because the union representation is lacking,\u201d one user wrote on TikTok. \u201cFor the OGs we see every contract the same ole song. Shame on them, living it up with better pensions than the ones who built this union.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Another commenter<\/a> spoke directly about raises disappearing into increased union dues.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThe union doesn\u2019t give a blank about us as long as their pocket is full!\u201d one commenter said. \u201cHonestly, that\u2019s why I really don\u2019t even go to the meetings, they never show up for us. And let\u2019s be real, our raises go up and our union dues go up, for what? They never show up or even pick up the phone when needed.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

These accounts point to a deeper, unresolved tension within one of the city\u2019s most powerful labor organizations. For some members, the issue is no longer just about wages or benefits, but about trust\u2014whether the union tasked with protecting them is willing to stand firmly in their corner when it matters most.\u00a0<\/p>\n