Union Janitors Graduate First Class of Fully Paid English Classes That Workers Won in Last Union Contract Fight
15 workers celebrate completion of months-long, paid classes that are funded through employer-management fund negotiated in most recent contract
MINNEAPOLIS– Janitors who clean downtown Minneapolis buildings and are members of SEIU Local 26 celebrated their graduation from the first ever fully-paid training program Saturday morning at a celebration in northeast Minneapolis. The classes, which have focused on English language skills, are part of the employer-management program workers won following the 2020 janitors contract negotiations. The workers took 1-hour classes, four days a week, all on paid time.
(Watch the ceremony HERE. Photos available upon requests, and students and teacher are available for comments)
Workers in the class highlighted their increased confidence in navigating language issues at their workplace, but also in things like parent-teacher conferences and doctors visits because of this groundbreaking class.
Alma Bonilla, a downtown janitor and member of SEIU Local 26 who took part in the classes, shared why this class was so powerful for her:
"I want to thank everyone who helped make this happen. It's always exciting to win better wages and benefits in our contract fight, but this class was something I could not have imagined being possible. To build my English skills on work time, which helps me both on my job and also in my day-to-day life, is something that is so amazing. We all learned so much and grew together by taking these classes. I'm glad we were willing to strike for a training fund this last round, and I'm thankful I was one of the first members able to take work time to help improve skills that will help me at work and beyond."
John A. Nesse, representing the employers via MSPCCA, shared why this agreement is a win-win for the employers:
"We see these classes as a great chance to invest in our employees. We're proud to see this first class reach completion and congratulate the 15 janitors who worked hard to build their English-language skills during this program. Programs like this are great opportunities for us to show that the union and management can work together to support the people who work hard every day and are looking for ways to build their skills to move forward in their careers."
Brahim Kone, Secretary-Treasurer of SEIU Local 26, shared the importance of this program:
"Our union believes our fight is not just to improve conditions for our members today, which is obviously critical, but also to win gains so that we can continue to improve the respect and recognition for jobs like janitors. The funding we won for these classes is an example of a step towards not just getting better pay and benefits, but to supporting a workforce that is too often left out and left behind. We're incredibly proud of the thousands of janitors who went on strike to win this program and to the 15 who graduated in this first class. We look forward to many more classes, covering various skills, that will follow this groundbreaking class."
The agreement that funds these programs was reached as part of an agreement that came following a 1-day strike by janitors in early 2020, just hours before they were set to begin an open-ended strike.
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SEIU Local 26 represents commercial and retail janitors, security officers, window cleaners, airport workers and more, bringing together 8,000 strong in the Twin Cities metro area.