‘a champion for working people’

Héctor Figueroa, the president of 32BJ SEIU, one of the city’s most influential labor unions, died suddenly of a heart attack the evening of July. He was 57.

“Héctor’s personal and principled concern for working people, union staff and others will be sorely missed by those who had the opportunity to work at his side,” 32BJ offered in a statement Monday morning. “He strived to continually further the well-being of 32BJ members and working people on a national and international level.”

Figueroa moved to the Bronx from Puerto Rico in 1982. Here, he completed his college education with a grant to study economics. Inspired after participating in Puerto Rico’s labor movement, Figueroa joined the Amalgamated Clothing Worked of America (now known as Workers United) in 1990.

In 1995, he joined to SEIU, where he worked on the union’s “Justice for Janitors” campaign and served as director for Puerto Rico. Later, he served as 32BJ’s deputy trustee, secretary treasurer and then as the director of the New York metro district. In 2012, he was elected as the union’s president.

The union represents 175,000 airport workers, window cleaners, superintendent, doormen, maintenance workers, cleaners, porters and security officers in Washington, D.C. and 11 states including New York, where there are 70,000 members.

While Figueroa served as president, the union was a national leader in the Fight for $15 campaign to raise the minimum wage for fast food workers. He also advocated for the elimination of Puerto Rico’s public debt and defense of Puerto Ricans displaced by Hurricane Maria.

City and state officials offered words of condolence for those who knew and worked with Figueroa, while praising his dedication and service to SEIU.

“It’s impossible to put into words what Héctor meant to the men and women of 32BJ SEIU, to working people and to the labor movement,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said. “His love of 32BJ SEIU ran deep, but you’d be just as likely to see him on the picket line with fast food workers or taxi drivers as you would with the custodians, service workers and doormen he represented.”

“Héctor Figueroa was a champion for working people, minorities, the poor, the voiceless — a hero of the labor community who did untold good for the working people of this state,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a tweet.

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer called Figueroa a champion for the poor who spent countless hours negotiating contracts for workers.

“Hector Figueroa was an important leader in the labor movement and dedicated his life to fighting for the working people of New York,” Brewer said.

Information on memorial services will be made public this week by the SEIU.

Figueroa is survived by his wife, Deidre, and his children Eric and Elena.