Building service workers protest wage, benefit cuts

Office cleaners who service buildings at 373 and 381 Park Avenue South rallied last week to protest against policies instituted by their bosses the first day they started owning the buildings. Planned Building Services has told the union representing the workers – Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union – that the company plans to cancel immigration legal benefits, healthcare benefits and will lower workers’ wages from $30 to $22 an hour.

Workers rely on their health benefits for cancer treatments, and at least one worker applied for citizenship this year using the immigration benefits, the union said. The 13 workers set to lose out on benefits and pay were joined at the rally last week by dozens of other 32BJ members and local elected officials.