WeWork today announced that it has reached an agreement with 32BJ SEIU regarding the maintenance of WeWork spaces in New York City and Boston. Jobs that are predominantly member facing will continue to be performed by full-time WeWork employees serving in the roles of Community Service Associates and Community Service Leads. In WeWork’s larger locations in these cities, core cleaning functions will be performed by outsourced union workers.
WeWork is committed to working with union contractors to rehire former CBM cleaners for these new positions whenever possible. For the former outsourced cleaners not hired by WeWork, WeWork has set aside $250,000, which will be used to provide generous severance payments. The severance will be paid according to a formula based on years of service.
Both parties have resolved their dispute related to a charge filed with the National Labor Relations Board.
“We pride ourselves on being great partners and we are pleased that we were able to develop a win-win partnership with 32BJ SEIU,” said WeWork President and COO, Artie Minson. “This arrangement provides a sensible path forward that allows us to focus on our top priority: providing the best possible experience for our members in a way that allows their passion and innovative spirit to flourish.”
Minson added, “Our Community Service Associates and Leads have been doing a great job and we are thrilled to expand this program to Boston. We are pleased that CBM, our current cleaning provider, has agreed to waive their no-hire clause in Boston, allowing us to interview current CBM employees for these roles. We are also demonstrating our corporate commitment to doing the ‘we’ thing by providing generous severance payments to formerly contracted cleaners who were not offered a job with WeWork.”
