Newark Ordinance Gives Protection To Janitors, Security Officers

NEWARK, NJ — The Newark City Council has passed an ordinance that will give extra protection to local janitors, security officers and door attendants, union spokespeople say.

The council unanimously passed the Building Service Worker Retention ordinance on second reading at their meeting on Wednesday. It will protect the above workers from losing their jobs for 90 days when a contract changes hands through no fault of their own, according to a statement from 32BJ SEIU.

The union’s New Jersey state director, Kevin Brown, said members of 32BJ SEIU are “looking forward to Mayor Ras Baraka signing the bill into law promptly.”

As the largest city in New Jersey to date to pass such a law, Newark is “recognizing the essential role contracted service workers play in our economy,” Brown said.

“This will protect all janitors, security, porters, concierges, and handypersons from unfairly losing their jobs,” Brown added. “With this law, city officials have taken steps to strengthening Newark’s economy and recovery.”

The ordinance is expected to pay off for workers like Marilyn Mars, a security officer and member of 32BJ SEIU.

“As a displaced worker from the Newark Housing Authority, I am moved to see that workers are now being recognized and protected as essentials,” Mars said. “I’m happy to know that no other worker will have to experience the anguish of having to make ends meet after suddenly losing their jobs because the contractor changes.”

Watch the meeting video below.

• See related article: Security Guards In Newark Apartment Buildings: Ordinance Passes
• See related article: 2,500 NJ Security Guards Fight For Pandemic Raises – And Get Them

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