Janitors fill Minneapolis skyways to call for fair contract

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_4292

By Barb Kucera, Workday editor
30 December 2009

MINNEAPOLIS - Joined by supporters, hundreds of Twin Cities janitors marched through downtown Minneapolis skyways Wednesday to demand a fair settlement with cleaning contractors.

The marchers chanted “Yes We Can” in several languages and “What do we want? Green jobs!” as they walked past offices and restaurants during the busy lunch hour.



Service Employees International Union Local 26 represents more than 4,000 janitors who clean the majority of commercial buildings in the seven-country metropolitan area. The union currently is bargaining a new contract with major cleaning contractors.

Employers are insisting on a number of givebacks, including having the right to convert many full-time jobs to part-time, the right to eliminate workload protections and the right to deny union representatives access to worksites, the union said.

At the same time they face concessionary demands, janitors are seeking to improve working conditions – and save energy and protect the environment – by instituting “green job” practices. These include more day shifts – to reduce lighting and heating costs and allow members to be with their families – and the use of safer chemicals.

FULL story and more photos at link.

[azurnoir]

1. I wish them luck and if that union has not changed

in the 17 years since I dealt with them they will need it, and understand I was supposed to be on the management side of the table. However that being said th company I was working for was trying to get rid of BOMA employees who were the only ones getting a living wage and benefits and there for trumping up any excuse to get rid of such employees at one such hearing I purposely gave the union guy openings and ways out for this poor person who was about to lose their job for the sin of making too much and guess what the union guy totally ignored it, the worker did lose their job but maybe it was because the union official at the hearing had better things to do as he was late for a golf game with one of the companies vice presidents!!!!

[Yuugal]

2. K&R

Hold the line brothers and sisters!