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JANITORS VOTE OVERWHELMINGLY TO AUTHORIZE STRIKE

Twin Cities Janitorial Contract Update

February 1, 2010

 

JANITORS VOTE OVERWHELMINGLY TO AUTHORIZE STRIKE

 
On Saturday, hundreds of janitors - representing over 4,000 janitors throughout the region - voted overwhelmingly to authorize their bargaining committee to call a strike over unfair labor practices, if necessary.

 

PRESS COVERAGE:

·         WCCO TV

·         Fox 9 News

·         Minnesota Public Radio

·         Finance & Commerce

 
They were joined in support by U.S. Representative Keith Ellison and other elected, environmental, labor, and community supporters. The affirmative vote means that the janitors who clean the vast majority of commercial office buildings and corporate headquarters in the Twin Cities region could walk off the job at any time.

The companies claim they are committed to a negotiated agreement, and have "invited us to negotiate in good faith."

But if they were truly interested in avoiding a strike when one could be called at any time, why could they only find time to negotiate once at the end of this week and once at the end of next week?

Janitors feel a sense of urgency to avoid a strike and settle a contract; we know many of you share that urgency.

Call your cleaning contractor and ask them why they don't feel the same urgency.

 

With our economy in a recession, we have proposed specific ways to save money and achieve cost predictability:

  •  A common health insurance plan with 0% cost increases for employers for both single and family plans in the first year, and
  • Support buildings that choose to switch to day shift cleaning since it can reduce energy use by up to 8%.

 

The companies have responded by demanding the elimination of full-time jobs, bargaining in bad faith, and retaliating against union members.

 

While Twin Cities Fortune 500 companies whose buildings we clean - like US Bancorp, Wells Fargo, Target, and Medtronic - continue to rake in billions in net profits, many janitors had their hours cut and/or face thousands in out-of-pocket medical costs due to poor coverage.

 
For more information, go to www.seiu26.org or contact SEIU Local 26 Secretary-Treasurer Greg Nammacher at 612-331-8336 x17.