By Brian Denitzio
News Editor

Tenant organizers from properties owned by the Mayo Group are planning a rally to take place Saturday in Roxbury. The rally is the latest move in an ongoing battle between tenants and the real estate and development company. Tenants say that Mayo is demanding unreasonable increases in their rents. To fend off what they characterize as unfair and unpredictable increases, tenants are demanding that Mayo enter into a collective bargaining agreement.

David Banks, a tenant at a Mayo-owned building at 760 Cummings Highway in Mattapan, said that for more than a year, Mayo has sought to raise his rent. Banks and others responded by asking Mayo to enter into a long-term collective bargaining agreement.

"We want predictability, where we know exactly what the increases are going to be," said Banks.

Negotiations toward a collective bargaining agreement stalled, but Mayo is renewing their call for higher rents from tenants at 760 Cummings.

In April, Banks received a letter from Mayo Group stating that the monthly rent on his two-bedroom apartment would increase from $875 to $1100. The letter, Banks said, gave him the choice of either accepting the increase or opting to move out. He and other tenants responded with a letter that reiterated their desire for a collective bargaining agreement. In response, on May 31, Banks received an eviction notice stating that he must leave his apartment by July 1.

Taran Grigsby, a Mayo Group representative, said that the company stands by its belief that collective bargaining agreements are not well suited to tenant-landlord negotiations.

"Based on our experience with collective bargaining in the past, we don't feel that it's an effective tool to deal with the questions presented," said Grigsby.

Mayo Group prefers to talk with tenants about their rent on a one-on-one basis, he said.

"The thing that we've maintained throughout the process is that we always are willing to work with tenants," said Grigsby. "Always, always, always if you have questions or concerns come in and meet with us."

He pointed out that the only tenants who were served with eviction notices were tenants at will, and underscored that in this process, Mayo Group has done nothing illegal. If tenants have an issue with the rent increases, they are free to come and discuss their situation with the Mayo Group, individually, said Grigsby.

Legality aside, Banks and other tenants argue that the increases sought by Mayo Group are patently unfair and serve only to make neighborhoods unaffordable to long-term residents.

"We're talking about Mayo and other opportunists who are a symptom of the problem that we don't have a level playing field," said Banks.

Banks and other tenants at 760 Cummings, and other Mayo-owned buildings have been working with Steve Meacham, a tenant organizer with City Life/Vida Urbana. Meacham said that tenants are willing to abide increases in the rent, but they want them outlined in writing.

"We'll pay a negotiated increase as part of a multi-year deal," said Meacham.

The rally on Saturday will take place at 2139 Washington St. in Dudley Square.