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Janitors End Strike and Return to Work
A contentious vote at SEIU's San Jose office puts Bay Area Janitors back to work, some as soon as this evening and almost all by tomorrow morning. SEIU's negotiators announced terms of the contract, which are slightly better than the original offer but far from the demands made by the janitors.
One week after walking off the job at more than a dozen bay area high tech and academic sites, janitors represented by SEIU are going back to work. They went on strike over cost of living increases, health care and insurance, and other benefits. At SEIU offices in San Jose, janitors gathered to hear a presentation from the Bargaining Committee and learn the terms of the proposed contract. They voted to go back to work, accepting the compromise deal by a margin of 2 to 1, although there were many in the group who questioned the process (not everyone was there to vote), the terms (far from what they were striking for), and the role of the negotiators (more than a few janitors wondered aloud what the union leadership got out of the compromise).
Others were ready to go back to work after a week without pay. Just about all the janitors left the office with worry on their faces. But SEIU provided a bag of groceries for families who've missed a check this month. For some it looked like welcome assistance, for others like another concession.
Audio in Spanish to be posted tomorrow, and broadcast on Freak Radio Santa Cruz (http://www.freakradio.org) along with an interview with participants from the Wednesday action at Chevron's shareholders meeting.
Others were ready to go back to work after a week without pay. Just about all the janitors left the office with worry on their faces. But SEIU provided a bag of groceries for families who've missed a check this month. For some it looked like welcome assistance, for others like another concession.
Audio in Spanish to be posted tomorrow, and broadcast on Freak Radio Santa Cruz (http://www.freakradio.org) along with an interview with participants from the Wednesday action at Chevron's shareholders meeting.
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Janitors Overwhelmingly Approve New Contract with Higher Wages,
Improved Access to Family Healthcare, Other Benefits
Janitors Call Off Strike, Head Back to Work Tonight
SILICON VALLEY – After a strike of more than 1,000 janitors that
impacted Silicon Valley’s high-tech giants and spread throughout the
Bay Area, janitors won higher wages, improved access to family
healthcare and other benefits in a four-year pact covering 6,000
janitors. The total increase in benefits and wages is estimated at
$99 million over the life of the contract. Janitors will now end the
strike and return to work as soon as tonight.
“Before the strike the companies offered wage increases of 11
percent, but now we’ve won twice as much, up to 22 percent or $2.40
more per hour by the end of the contract. This will help us begin to
provide for our families in the way that we want to, so we can do
better than just survive,” said Maria Granada, a janitor at Applied
Materials.
Janitors overwhelmingly approved the four-year pact that will boost
wages up to $1,250 a year and improve access to family healthcare.
The new agreement will extend family healthcare coverage to nearly 75
percent of Bay Area janitors by 2012, when the contract will expire.
Waiting periods for family healthcare eligibility will be reduced
from 30 months to 18 months by the end of the contract.
Some High-Tech Leaders Vow to Do Better
A number of area high-tech companies are choosing to go beyond the
gains made in the agreement by establishing a career ladder,
increasing pay by 31 percent and lowering waiting periods for access
to individual healthcare to 6 months and family healthcare to 12
months. This commitment from companies who have requested anonymity
would cover up to 500 Silicon Valley-area janitors.
“Some companies are showing the leadership and innovation that the
Silicon Valley is known for, by creating this new high-tech
standard,” said Mike Garcia, president of SEIU Local 1877. “With the
rising cost of housing, gas, food and other basic necessities, it’s
only right that janitors who work hard now have a career ladder to
move into higher paying worksites by seniority.”
For the first time ever, janitors can move up into higher paying
worksites by seniority, creating a career ladder that will help
reduce turnover in the industry.
String of Historic Victories by Janitors Across California
The Silicon Valley and Bay Area janitors’ victory is the third in as
many weeks. Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego janitors have
also recently won new contracts with higher wages, improved access to
healthcare and other benefits. SEIU Local 1877 represents 20,000
janitors across California.
Next Steps: Sacramento
With the Silicon Valley and Bay Area janitors contract now settled,
the janitors’ union SEIU Local 1877 will focus on winning a new
contract for 2,000 janitors in Sacramento. The contract there expires
May 31.
Further details of the agreement are available on the janitors’ union
website http://www.seiu-usww.org.
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1877 is part of
SEIU United Service Workers West, representing more than 40,000
janitors, security officers, airport service workers, and other
property service workers across California. SEIU is the nation’s
largest and fastest growing union in North America with more than 1.9
million members.
Improved Access to Family Healthcare, Other Benefits
Janitors Call Off Strike, Head Back to Work Tonight
SILICON VALLEY – After a strike of more than 1,000 janitors that
impacted Silicon Valley’s high-tech giants and spread throughout the
Bay Area, janitors won higher wages, improved access to family
healthcare and other benefits in a four-year pact covering 6,000
janitors. The total increase in benefits and wages is estimated at
$99 million over the life of the contract. Janitors will now end the
strike and return to work as soon as tonight.
“Before the strike the companies offered wage increases of 11
percent, but now we’ve won twice as much, up to 22 percent or $2.40
more per hour by the end of the contract. This will help us begin to
provide for our families in the way that we want to, so we can do
better than just survive,” said Maria Granada, a janitor at Applied
Materials.
Janitors overwhelmingly approved the four-year pact that will boost
wages up to $1,250 a year and improve access to family healthcare.
The new agreement will extend family healthcare coverage to nearly 75
percent of Bay Area janitors by 2012, when the contract will expire.
Waiting periods for family healthcare eligibility will be reduced
from 30 months to 18 months by the end of the contract.
Some High-Tech Leaders Vow to Do Better
A number of area high-tech companies are choosing to go beyond the
gains made in the agreement by establishing a career ladder,
increasing pay by 31 percent and lowering waiting periods for access
to individual healthcare to 6 months and family healthcare to 12
months. This commitment from companies who have requested anonymity
would cover up to 500 Silicon Valley-area janitors.
“Some companies are showing the leadership and innovation that the
Silicon Valley is known for, by creating this new high-tech
standard,” said Mike Garcia, president of SEIU Local 1877. “With the
rising cost of housing, gas, food and other basic necessities, it’s
only right that janitors who work hard now have a career ladder to
move into higher paying worksites by seniority.”
For the first time ever, janitors can move up into higher paying
worksites by seniority, creating a career ladder that will help
reduce turnover in the industry.
String of Historic Victories by Janitors Across California
The Silicon Valley and Bay Area janitors’ victory is the third in as
many weeks. Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego janitors have
also recently won new contracts with higher wages, improved access to
healthcare and other benefits. SEIU Local 1877 represents 20,000
janitors across California.
Next Steps: Sacramento
With the Silicon Valley and Bay Area janitors contract now settled,
the janitors’ union SEIU Local 1877 will focus on winning a new
contract for 2,000 janitors in Sacramento. The contract there expires
May 31.
Further details of the agreement are available on the janitors’ union
website http://www.seiu-usww.org.
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1877 is part of
SEIU United Service Workers West, representing more than 40,000
janitors, security officers, airport service workers, and other
property service workers across California. SEIU is the nation’s
largest and fastest growing union in North America with more than 1.9
million members.
Listen now:
The bargaining committee explained the terms of the contract offer, recommending compromise and acceptance, controlling the presentation. Janitors wouldn't have gotten a chance to say anything unless they had demanded it: they only got call and response chanting from Union leadership. We worked really hard on this, they say, and we know it's not the best offer, but it's better than LA gets! It's not exactly what we demanded, it's not quite what we went on strike for, but the decision is yours, the last word is yours...
but no dialogue.
2:20 "The recommendation is that you accept the contract." A group of women interrupted the bargaining committee to ask questions: "of the two dollars we get in our raise, how much is for you guys?"
Adelina SEIU: She's content with the will of the majority.
"Many aren't content, but the majority do, because we lack money--w/o a check is tough when you live check to check. i'm a single mom, so i understand. we've been off the job nine days. most of the janitors are single moms. kids but no money... we were on strike a week, plus one of the companies closed down so i'm out two weeks--an entire paycheck.
so everyone isn't happy but the majority, want to get back to work. it's not huge, but it's substantial(the raises in the contract).
Q there was a reaction when the committee announced the terms--were they waiting for something better?
the majority accepts that things are going to be as they are. others want us to keep going. if we vote to continue the strike, then onward! if not, then that's fine too.
Q: is everyone here? to vote and make that decision?
no, lots of people aren't here. for me, though, with the insurance and the raise, it's enough. hasta 1:45
They still have to wait two years for family coverage.
i'm content too because we've never got a better contract than LA, and we won a better offer. I work at Applied Materials, and I'm ready to get back to work. Living check to check, it's tough. I'm a single mom with two kids. they need to go to the dentist."
After a few tense minutes passed, the votes had been counted and negotiators announcing results (english, then spanish) 588-121 voted to accept the contract and go back to work, according to SEIU Local 1877 President Mike Garcia this includes a vote that took place in Oakland earlier. After the announcement, chants of 'si se puede' drowns out the boos.
After the announcement, folks trickled out looking far from victorious. One inconforme said: we went on a tiny strike for a tiny increase. we're inundated with bills, rent,... to go out on strike for two weeks to get this? i'm not content with this.
Q: do you go back to work tomorrow? I don't even know...
I also talked to a woman who wasn't part of the union, but who supported the strike and wanted to be more involved. "They (union leadership) make decisions without talking to us. They excluded anyone who was outside the union.
It was an interesting event--clearly contentious, without many people going back to work in high spirits. But it's a pay raise for some of the lowest paid organized employees in one of the most expensive places in the country to live, and a victory for SEIU's leadership.
but no dialogue.
2:20 "The recommendation is that you accept the contract." A group of women interrupted the bargaining committee to ask questions: "of the two dollars we get in our raise, how much is for you guys?"
Adelina SEIU: She's content with the will of the majority.
"Many aren't content, but the majority do, because we lack money--w/o a check is tough when you live check to check. i'm a single mom, so i understand. we've been off the job nine days. most of the janitors are single moms. kids but no money... we were on strike a week, plus one of the companies closed down so i'm out two weeks--an entire paycheck.
so everyone isn't happy but the majority, want to get back to work. it's not huge, but it's substantial(the raises in the contract).
Q there was a reaction when the committee announced the terms--were they waiting for something better?
the majority accepts that things are going to be as they are. others want us to keep going. if we vote to continue the strike, then onward! if not, then that's fine too.
Q: is everyone here? to vote and make that decision?
no, lots of people aren't here. for me, though, with the insurance and the raise, it's enough. hasta 1:45
They still have to wait two years for family coverage.
i'm content too because we've never got a better contract than LA, and we won a better offer. I work at Applied Materials, and I'm ready to get back to work. Living check to check, it's tough. I'm a single mom with two kids. they need to go to the dentist."
After a few tense minutes passed, the votes had been counted and negotiators announcing results (english, then spanish) 588-121 voted to accept the contract and go back to work, according to SEIU Local 1877 President Mike Garcia this includes a vote that took place in Oakland earlier. After the announcement, chants of 'si se puede' drowns out the boos.
After the announcement, folks trickled out looking far from victorious. One inconforme said: we went on a tiny strike for a tiny increase. we're inundated with bills, rent,... to go out on strike for two weeks to get this? i'm not content with this.
Q: do you go back to work tomorrow? I don't even know...
I also talked to a woman who wasn't part of the union, but who supported the strike and wanted to be more involved. "They (union leadership) make decisions without talking to us. They excluded anyone who was outside the union.
It was an interesting event--clearly contentious, without many people going back to work in high spirits. But it's a pay raise for some of the lowest paid organized employees in one of the most expensive places in the country to live, and a victory for SEIU's leadership.
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