Powerful NYC labor union 32BJ SEIU has new president

One of the Big Apple’s most powerful labor unions, 32BJ SEIU, announced Wednesday it has named Manny Pastreich as its new president.

Pastreich replaces current president Kyle Bragg, who is retiring.

The union represents approximately 175,000 service workers in New York and 11 other states.

Pastreich, who previously served as secretary treasurer, became the union’s top honcho through an executive board vote Wednesday morning.

He hailed Bragg upon his election, saying it had been a “true honor and pleasure” to work with him. “32BJ and the entire labor movement are better because of his leadership, and 32BJ is immeasurably stronger,” Pastreich said.

“We will miss Kyle and will use all he has taught us to continue to win strong contracts, organize the unorganized and make politicians accountable to working people.”

Bragg took over the politically powerful union in 2019 after the death of Hector Figueroa, who previously served as its president.

Bragg helped hammer out a contract that covers 32,000 building service workers earlier this year and oversaw advocacy efforts for airport workers that led to the Healthy Terminals Acts in New York and New Jersey, which boosted wages and access to health care benefits in both states.

He was also instrumental in helping to wrangle political support for City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams in her push to secure that post earlier this year. Bragg was 32BJ’s first Black president.