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JULY 31 - AUGUST 06, 2013 • VOLUME 4 - No. 31 The FREE PRESS The Community’s Bilingual Newspaper BRONX El Periódico Bilingüe de la Comunidad They’ll take the Village p3 p3 Photo: Robin Elisabeth Kilmer Protesta Model Man p13 Montefiore p 11 Unity p6 “I welcome FreshDirect to the Bronx with open arms...” “They will bring 1,000 new jobs with them to our borough...” “More and more companies are discovering that the Bronx is a great place to do business...” “FreshDirect’s move to our borough is a major positive step forward for our economy.” —Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. For more information about our move to the Bronx, please visit www.FreshDirectFacts.com © 2013 FreshDirect LLC 2 JUly 31, 2013 • the bronx free press • www.thebronxfreepress.com Story and photos by Robin Elisabeth Kilmer either a full day’s work nor They’ll take the Village Nthe heat could stop members 32BJ workers wage protest of 32BJ Service Employees International Union (SEIU) from protesting on Wed., July 18th outside the Concourse Village, a vast complex of co-op apartments on the Grand Concourse. Each building has 24 floors with 19 units per floor. It is, as any of those who form part of the nation’s largest union of property service workers will point out, a lot of cleaning. Still, even their hard work at the end of a long, hot day could not eliminate what they claim was a substantial stench of wrong- doing. “Something smell stank,” said Kyle Bragg, the union’s Secretary-Treasurer, to the crowd Workers at Concourse Village protested. of 32BJ workers, tenants and supporters who end of August, the workers will aspects,” he said. gathered to rally outside of the Concourse lose their pension and benefits. Ultimately, the board at Concourse Village Village in protest. Workers are especially said that they would not sign a contract unless “But we’re going to clean it up, because frustrated because concessions the workers accept a wage freeze—using the that’s what we do. We’re going to get it to have been made—on both sides— rationale that public sector workers throughout smell right,” added Bragg, whose words were so a contract could be drawn up. the country are also enduring wage freezes. met with whoops and cheers. They say they were caught “What they’re saying is that all public sector The group had formed to protest the co-op by surprise when the Concourse workers make sacrifices, but it’s not apples to board’s proposed 4-year wage freeze for the Village’s board of directors said apples. These workers’ wages are much lower staff, and ongoing negotiations that have yet And they insist that workers and union that there would be no contract than private sector workers’,” said Figueroa, to produce an agreement. representatives have bargained in good presented, explained Héctor Figueroa, 32BJ’s pointing to the protesters. Sixty-seven porters and handypersons, faith with the co-op board since the contract President. The average hourly pay of property service explain 32BJ organizers, stand to lose their expired in 2011, but to no avail. “They said they didn’t have money, [but] workers is only slightly above the minimum health insurance benefits and pension if an They have been in negotiations ever since. we were negotiating for over a year. People agreement with the board is not reached soon. And if the contract is not renewed by the were looking at difference savings and other See VILLAGE p23 Historia y fotos por Robin Elisabeth Kilmer que no firmarían un contrato a menos que los empleados firmaran una congelación de salario i un día completo de trabajo ni el calor Ellos tomarán ‘The Village’ – utilizando la lógica de que los empleados del sector público a través del país también estaban Npodían detener a los miembros de la Empleados de 32BJ presentan protesta enfrentando congelación de salario. 32BJ Union Internacional de Empleados “Lo que están diciendo es que todos los de Servicio (SEIU, por sus siglas en empleados del sector público hagan sacrificios, inglés) de protestar el miércoles, 18 de pero no son manzanas a manzanas. Los salarios julio en las afueras de Concourse Village, de estos empleados son mucho más bajos que los empleados del sector público”, dijo Figueroa un enorme complejo de apartamentos señalando a los manifestantes. co-op en Grand Concourse. El promedio de paga por hora de empleados de servicio a propiedades está levemente encima del Cada edificio tiene 24 pisos y 19 unidades por salario mínimo. Figueroa dijo que los empleados y piso. la unión estaban pidiendo no más de un aumento Es, como cualquiera de aquellos que forman anual de .25 centavos por hora. parte de la unión más grande del país de “Hace una gran diferencia para los empleados, empleados de servicios de propiedades señalara: pero no va a arruinar al Concoure Village”, dijo el. mucha limpieza. Figueroa dijo que no había previsto la Todavía, aun su arduo trabajo al final de un renuencia de Concourse Village de firmar caluroso largo día, no podía eliminar lo que ellos el contrato. “Las negociaciones han sido sostienen fue un sustancial hedor de algo malo. arrastradas, pero nunca hemos llegado a un “Algo huele mal”, dijo Kyle Bragg, secretario- callejón sin salida”. tesorero de la unión, a la multitud de empleados Además, dijo Figueroa, pagar por un seguro de la 32BJ, inquilinos y seguidores que se de salud que es provisto por la unión es menos reunieron para manifestarse en protesta en las costoso que proveer un seguro de salud del afueras de Concourse Village. “Vamos a limpiarlo”, dijo mercado privado. “Hemos estado negociando por más de un Kyle Bragg, secretario- “Pero vamos a limpiarlo, porque eso es lo año”, dijo Héctor Figueroa, Presidente de 32BJ. La ironía de la situación, dijeron los que hacemos. Vamos a hacer que huela bien”, tesorero de 32BJ. organizadores de 32BJ, es que muchas personas anadio Bragg, cuyas palabras fueron recibidas pronto. porque se han hecho concesiones – de ambos en Concourse Village son antiguos empleados de con vítores. Y ellos insisten que los empleados y los lados – para poder elaborar un contrato. la unión. El grupo se formó para protestar la propuesta representantes de la unión han negociado de Dijeron que fueron tomados por sorpresa “Esta es la misma lucha que lucharon para de la junta del co-op de cuatro años de buena fe con la junta del co-op desde que el cuando la junta de directores de Concourse poder tener un buen retiro”, dijo Lawrence Canty, congelación de salario para los empleados y las contrato expirara en el 2011, pero no ha servido Village dijo que no habría ningún contrato quien limpia pisos en el centro comunal en negociaciones en curso que aun tienen que llegar de nada. presentado, explicó Héctor Figueroa, presidente Concourse Village. a un acuerdo. Han estado en negociaciones desde entonces. de 32BJ. “Dijeron que no tenían dinero, pero En el verano caliente, dijo Canty, puede Setenta porteros y personas que hacen de Y si el contrato no es renovado para finales hemos estado negociando por más de un año. La contar con el aire acondicionado de los espacios todo, explicaron los organizadores de 32BJ, están de agosto, los empleados perderán su pensión y gente estaba mirando diferentes ahorros y otros centrales del edificio y el vestíbulo para por perder sus beneficios de seguro de salud y beneficios. aspectos”, dijo el. pensión sino se llega a un acuerdo con la junta Los empleados están especialmente frustrados Finalmente, la junta de Concourse Village dijo Vea VILLAGE p23 JUly 31, 2013 • the bronx free press • www.thebronxfreepress.com 3 Digital roadshow, memory slideshow Story by Gregg McQueen Reunion is usually the first time Photos by QPHOTONYC people have shared their photos with anyone outside their family. ea Wolinetz slowly “It’s always exciting, and you removed the never know where it’s going to go,” L he said. “It can be an emotional aging black and white experience for people.” photograph from a folder in Harris said that participants are her handbag, and gingerly essentially creating an “extended placed it on a table. family” by sharing their personal history with an audience and The photo had seen better days – visitors to his website. the ends were frayed, and a distinct Pam Sporn shared a picture of tear was evident at the bottom – but her father as a child in 1922. to Wolinetz it was worth more than “He was born in Brooklyn, gold. but became ill as a child, and the It depicted her mother, a doctor said he should move to Holocaust survivor, who came to higher altitude, so my grandparents Participants gathered to share photographs and memories at the Bronx Museum moved to the Bronx,” she said. America from Poland in 1949. of Art with the Digital Diaspora Family Reunion: One City, One Family project. Wolinetz, along with dozens Sporn also displayed a picture of others, had brought their photographic “My mother’s own education was cut short and has toured it around the East coast to of her dad as teenager, and told a story of memories to the Bronx Museum on Sat., because of the war,” added Wolinetz. “She major cities. how he would hop the turnstiles to score free July 20th, to participate in Digital Diaspora inspired me to become a teacher myself – At the roadshow events, which are free subway rides in those days. Family Reunion: One City, One Family, an that’s her legacy to me.” and open to the public, guests are invited to Trudy Erwin showed attendees photos interactive media project for community Digital Diaspora Family Reunion is the bring family photographs, and tell the story of herself as a little girl, enjoying famous members to publicly share family pictures brainchild of documentary filmmaker and behind the images, as Harris’ crew films them sites such as the Bronx Zoo and New York and personal stories.