Louisville’s Housing Authority Workers won a new contract after months of negotiation and bargaining. Over 100 Louisville Metro Housing Authority workers, belonging to 32BJ SEIU, announced their new ratified contract, delivering gains in healthcare and job protection, gaining better work conditions and better maintenance services for residents.
The new 4-year agreement guarantees 100% employer-paid healthcare for individuals, and more affordable family coverage available for $250 a month.
“This is a huge win for all of us and will be life-changing for a lot of people, especially winning employer-paid health insurance,” said Ronnie Holcombe, a maintenance worker for LMHA and 32BJ Bargaining Committee Member, in a release. “There were members who couldn’t afford healthcare before. Now we’ll finally have the opportunity to go to the doctor. This contract means extra money in our families’ pockets, which benefits workers and the entire community.”
Other contract improvements include:
- Guarantees 100% employer-paid healthcare for individuals, with low-cost family coverage.
- Ensures in-house employees are prioritized for general maintenance work, recognizing their experience and long-standing commitment to tenants.
- Establishes rotating overtime so work is distributed fairly and allows better work/life balance.
- Protects seniority during lateral moves, ensuring workers don’t lose step wage increases.
- Adds Oaks Day as a paid holiday and increases the boot allowance to $150, paid directly to employees.
- Strengthens progressive discipline protections, ensuring fairness and transparency on the job.
“32BJ members are part of our neighborhoods—they know the families, they care about the buildings, and they respond when we call,” said Angela Thornton, Sheppard Square resident and tenant activist, in a release. “This contract ensures the people maintaining our homes can support their own families, too.”
