toning bed

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Members of SEIU Local 82, representing more than 8,000 property service workers in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia, have voted overwhelmingly to merge with SEIU Local 32BJ -- the largest property service workers union in the country. Local 32BJ and Local 82 are affiliates of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which represents 1.8 million members. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020918/SEIULOGO ) "Our members know the merger with Local 32BJ will strengthen their hand at the bargaining table when negotiating new labor contracts," said Local 82 President Valerie Long. "Moving forward, the new District 82 will have a greater capacity to grow union membership across the Washington, DC area and defend worker rights, including immigrant worker rights." The merger, once it is approved by the SEIU, will extend the geographic reach of Local 32BJ across six states and the District of Columbia, from Connecticut to Virginia. Mail-in ballots were counted in Washington, DC on Saturday. "To confront an industry dominated by large and growing companies, unions must work together across state lines to protect hard-fought gains in wages and health care," said Michael Fishman, Local 32BJ President. "A merger benefits our members from Local 82 and Local 32BJ in their common fight to raise worker standards in an increasingly global economy." Local 32BJ, which already represents more than 75,000 cleaners, door attendants, porters, maintenance workers, window cleaners, security officers, superintendents, and theater and stadium workers, is the largest property service workers union in the United States.