Janitors ratify historic contract

The more than 4,200 workers won affordable family health insurance, more full-time jobs, and higher wages in the tentative agreement announced Feb. 5. Now ratified, the contract takes effect immediately.

"This is a victory for janitors and for all Minnesotans," said Amelia Lopez, a janitor at Normandale Lake Office Park in Bloomington. "We showed what could be done and now we can work to make sure everyone has access to health care for their families."

With this new agreement, janitors won an affordable health insurance plan starting in July of this year. By 2009, they will pay $20 a month for single coverage and $75 per month for family coverage.

The workers also won approximately 200-300 more full-time positions so that more janitors will have access to health insurance through their job.

Full-time janitors won a 10 percent wage increase over the three-year contract. In addition, the contract moves toward closing the wage gap between full and part-time workers. Right now, full-time janitors earn $11.77 per hour and part-timers earn $9.75. By 2009, full-time janitors will earn $12.97 and part-timers will earn $11.45, closing the more than $2.00 wage gap by $.50 cents per hour.

"With this new contract, health insurance will be affordable for my family," said Jamilo Ali, a janitor in downtown St. Paul whose family is uninsured. "I am proud that I took a stand for my family, and for all Minnesota families, to make health care affordable because no one should have to worry about taking their kids to the doctor."

Throughout negotiations, the primary issue for janitors was affordable health care. The health plans offered by their employers are so expensive that only 14 out of 4,200 janitors are currently enrolled in family health insurance through their job and less than a quarter are enrolled in any plan at all.

Janitors had been working without a contract for more than a month after their employers initially refused to discuss affordable family health care. Hundreds of janitors voted overwhelmingly on Jan. 13 to walk off the job over lack of access to affordable health care. Negotiations resumed Jan. 31.

"This victory sparks hope for all Minnesotans because it showed that we can fix the health care problem if we work together," said Javier Morillo, president of SEIU Local 26. "Janitors did what was right for their families and they are leading the way toward achieving affordable health insurance for all Minnesotans."

Photos
View MInneapolis Labor Review photos of the contract vote

For more information
Visit the special Workday Minnesota section on the Justice for Janitors campaign