The janitors lost their jobs in 2014 when a new contractor, Eastern Essential Services, refused to hire them because of their affiliation with Union 32-BJ.
NEWARK - Thirty-six janitors who lost their jobs in 2014 because they belonged to a union will receive back pay that could total up to $1 million, according to union representatives.
The janitors lost their jobs when a new contractor, Eastern Essential Services, refused to hire them because of their affiliation with Union 32-BJ, an administrative law judge decided last summer.
The judge found that EES had broken the law and ordered the contractor to offer the workers their jobs back and give them retroactive pay.
The National Labor Relations Board on Monday upheld the administrative law judge's decision and ordered that the workers receive back pay and benefits because they were wrongly fired.
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Most of the employees returned to their jobs last September at offices in East Rutherford, Secaucus and Bernards Township.
"This decision is so gratifying because we fought so hard to right this wrong," said Marie de la Torre, a longtime office cleaner. "We marched, rallied and protested in the heat, rain and snow for more than a year to make our voices heard."
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.