Bergen Company Illegally Slashed Workers Wages, Union Says

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A local cleaning company slashed workers' wages illegally after they were hired to take over the cleaning contract for a Woodcliff Lake office building.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRD) issued a complaint Wednesday with the workers' cleaning union asserting that Nemco initially refused to hire seven janitors because they were members of a union.

The NLRB claims that Capstone Realty, which owns 50 Tice Boulevard in Woodcliff Lake, hired Nemco to take over the cleaning contract for the building. Nemco hired four ex-union workers after the union filed the complaint, but slashed their wages by more than 40 percent, from $8.75 to $14.75 an hour.

"I used to be able to send some money to my husband and two children who live in Peru," said Rosario Zamora, a part-time worker. "Now I'm working just to pay for my transportation to get to work. It's a good thing I live with my daughter. If not, I wouldn't be able to afford my rent."

The complaint seeks back pay for the workers and an increase in hourly pay to $14.75.

Nemco must respond to the complaint by Feb. 12. The union plans to bring the case before an administrative law judge.

Local officials expressed their support for the workers.

"No Bergen County resident — no New Jersey resident for that matter — should work hard and live in poverty," said Bergen County Freeholder Chairman Thomas Sullivan.

Email daniel.hubbard@patch.com. Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.

Image via Shutterstock