JANITORS SET STRIKE AUTHORIZATION VOTE
Twin Cities Janitorial Contract Update - January 26, 2010
Twin Cities Janitorial Contract Update - January 26, 2010
IN THIS UPDATE:
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Janitors Set Strike Authorization Vote
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Companies Are Out of Touch, Distort the Facts
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Blue Green Alliance Report Release
JANITORS SET STRIKE AUTHORIZATION VOTE
Hundreds of Twin Cities janitors came together on Saturday to discuss our next steps after employers failed to meet a deadline to discuss real solutions on green cleaning and affordable health insurance.
With a unanimous recommendation from the bargaining team, janitors set a strike authorization vote over unfair labor practices for this Saturday, January 30. Janitors have been working without a contract since January 8, and are sick of the stalling and retaliation by the companies.
The companies have recently suspended union members for engaging in union activities with their co-workers, which we view as serious unfair labor practices.
We want to discuss real solutions. It is unfortunate that the companies have responded by bargaining in bad faith and pushing us into a public dispute that we sought to avoid.
COMPANIES ARE OUT OF TOUCH, DISTORT THE FACTS
Instead of engaging in meaningful negotiations over our core priorities, the companies have resorted to a gross distortion of the facts regarding the wages and benefits of Twin Cities janitors.
THEY CLAIM: Twin Cities janitors are the highest paid janitors - better than even Chicago!
THE REALITY IS: Over 60% of Chicago janitors make $14.80 per hour, and work an 8-hour day. Employers also pay more for health insurance, and pay on every single member. Not only do companies not do that here, we're not even proposing that kind of change.
Many full-time Twin Cities janitors have already seen their income cut by as much as 25% in recent years through a reduction in hours, forcing some to lose their homes and all to make impossible choices. With a gross income of under $27,000 a year at 40 hours per week, no one can afford a 25% drop in pay.
And the companies want to make things even worse by demanding the ability to eliminate any and all full-time jobs.
THEY CLAIM: Twin Cities janitors have "excellent health care coverage"
THE REALITY IS: Many Twin Cities janitors have thousands of dollars in medical bills because our health insurance does not cover enough, and janitors are afraid to go to the doctor out of fear of huge bills from out-of-pocket costs.
Adriana Espinosa has been a janitor for 8 years, and works for Harvard Building Maintenance at the Campbell Mithun Tower in Minneapolis. Adriana has single health insurance coverage from Harvard, and right now she has over $3,000 in out-of-pocket medical bills from just the last year alone.
Mercedes Ponce has also been a janitor for 7 years, and works for ABM Janitorial Services at the Airport. She has single health insurance coverage from ABM, but faces over $6,000 in out-of-pocket medical debt from recent years.
BLUE GREEN ALLIANCE REPORT RELEASE
Earlier today, janitors and environmental allies came together to release report from SEIU Local 26 and the Blue Green Alliance. The report, entitled, "Clean Sweep: How a New Approach to Cleaning Commercial Buildings in the Twin Cities Can Protect Our Health and the Environment while Securing Jobs and Saving Money, shows how a transition to Day Shift Cleaning and Green Cleaning can save millions for Minneapolis and Saint Paul building owners while protecting workers and the environment.
Janitors want to make green cleaning a reality in the Twin Cities by using only green chemicals that are safer for janitors and tenants, and supporting buildings that decide to switch to day-shift cleaning to save energy and reduce their carbon footprint, so long as it is done in a worker-friendly manner.
You can download the full report here.
For more information, go to www.seiu26.org or contact SEIU Local 26 Secretary-Treasurer Greg Nammacher at 612-331-8336 x17.