Union to provide benefits to displaced WTC workers.

Mike Fishman, President of SEIU Local 32BJ, metro New York's building service workers union, and Jim Berg, President of the Realty Advisory Board (RAB) on Labor Relations, announced a ground-breaking, industry-wide, agreement to provide healthcare, income, and jobs to the 2000 office cleaners, elevator starters, security officers, maintenance workers and others who have lost their jobs from the devastation of the attack on the World Trade Center.

The agreement calls for contractors (see attached) who are covered under contract with Local 32BJ to give preferential hiring to the victims of the attack when job openings become available. The union and RAB will jointly administer the program.

"The attack on the World Trade Center was intended to strip us of our humanity. We must rebuild our city on the twin pillars of humanity and compassion" said Local 32BJ President Mike Fishman. "This agreement is a model of how we can all work together to ensure that working people don't bear the brunt of this tragedy."

"Every owner and contractor will do their share," said Jim Berg, President of the employer association that bargains with the union. "To rebuild our industry and help repair the fabric of our city, we must all take responsibility."

In the interim, the jointly administered Benefit Fund will provide health and supplemental unemployment benefits to members for up to six months. Affected members will also have the opportunity for early retirement.

1200 Local 32BJ members were employed at the World Trade Center 350 were on duty at the time of the attacks on Sept. 11.26 are still missing 800 others worked in surrounding buildings that were destroyed or closed.