LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After months of negotiations, more than 100 Louisville Metro Housing Authority (LMHA) employees have ratified a new four-year union contract, union leaders announced Thursday.
According to 32BJ SEIU, the agreement provides “significant gains in healthcare and job protections—ensuring better working conditions for employees and reliable maintenance services for residents.”
The new contract offers 100% employer-paid healthcare for individuals and family coverage for $250 per month.
“This is a huge win for all of us and will be life-changing for many people, especially with employer-paid health insurance,” said Ronnie Holcombe, an LMHA maintenance worker and 32BJ Bargaining Committee Member. “Some members couldn’t afford healthcare before. Now we can finally go to the doctor. This contract means more money in our families’ pockets, benefiting workers and the entire community.”
Key provisions of the contract include:
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100% employer-paid healthcare for individuals, with low-cost family coverage.
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Priority for in-house employees on general maintenance work.
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Rotating overtime to ensure fair distribution and better work-life balance.
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Seniority protection during lateral moves, maintaining step wage increases.
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Addition of Oaks Day as a paid holiday and an increased boot allowance of $150, paid directly to workers.
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Enhanced progressive discipline protections to ensure fairness and transparency.
“These workers are the backbone of Louisville’s public housing,” said Robert Smith, Kentucky State Director of 32BJ SEIU. “When housing workers have strong contracts, residents get dependable service and healthier homes. Every dollar these workers earn goes back into our local economy, supporting Louisville’s small businesses and neighborhoods.”
With over 185,000 members across 12 states and Washington, D.C., 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service workers union in the United States.
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