Salt of the Earth: Justice for Janitors Campaign

Salt shakers
May 2000

Justice for Janitors campaigns across the U.S.
The Service Employees International Union's (SEIU) "Justice for Janitors Campaign 2000" is beginning a year of demonstrations on behalf of the nation's "invisible" labor forces—maintenance and cleaning crews who show up for their jobs when most American workers have gone home for the night. More than 100,000 janitors across the country are uniting to demonstrate for better wages and affordable health insurance. Despite a strong economy and an 18 percent increase in commercial building rental rates, real wages for janitors have stood still or gone down over the last 20 years in many cities, the SEIU says.

After recent labor and hunger strikes and demonstrations—and backed by a large war chest to support strikers' families—the campaign has recently enjoyed some significant victories:

Los Angeles janitors, currently paid an annual wage of approximately $15,000, came to terms with local contractors after a three-week strike, winning the single largest wage increase in the campaigns' history. On April 23, members of Local 1877 overwhelmingly approved a three-year contract that provides wage increases of $1.90 per hour—or 26 percent—for janitors who work downtown and $1.50 per hour—or 22 percent—for janitors in the suburbs.
The janitors had the strong support of Cardinal Roger Mahoney and political leaders Mayor Richard Riordan, County Supervisors, and the LA City Council.
In New York, 10,000 residential building workers marched on Manhattan's Upper East Side, demanding better wages and skills training. A NY strike appears to have been averted, and workers there are ready to approve a contract estimated to increase wages by about 10 percent over three years. The contract also includes provisions for computer training and subsidies for workers to purchase personal computers
In Chicago, 5,500 members of SEIU Local 1 walked out on April 17th in a one-day strike, the first such action 50 years, to show its determination in ongoing talks with local contractors. They won pay increases of $1.10 over three years—nearly four times as much as the raises in their previous contract. After a 10 day walkout, janitors in the Chicago suburbs came to terms with building owners. Janitors will receive a $1.35 an hour raise over three years and family health insurance in the third year. The lack of health insurance had been a major concern among the striking janitors. Suburban janitors previously earned on average $6.50 per hour.
In San Diego, 225 members of Local 2028 walked out on April 9th after negotiations broke down two days earlier. Currently working for $7.05 with no health benefits, janitors are demanding a 50 cents raise each year for the next three years, and health insurance for themselves and their families. Some members have been on a hunger strike since April 20th.

"The victory in Los Angeles is part of a cross-country sweep for janitors in the past week," said SEIU Building Service Division Director Stephen Lerner. "Now we're moving on to other cities with the same kind of unity, public support, and national coordination that worked in L.A."

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