The win didn’t come easily. When negotiations began three months earlier, the employer group sought wage cuts and benefit take-backs from the 4,000 janitors, members of Service Employees International Union Local 26.
The Local 26 bargaining committee — including 50 members reflecting the diversity of the union — kept pressing for the union’s contract goals.
At the same time, the union built community support, waged escalating actions in the streets and showed it was serious about preparations to go on strike.
Under the new contract, a labor-management committee will cooperate on implementing green initiatives, including the use of green cleaning products wherever possible. If a building switches to day-shift cleaning, janitors there will transition to eight-hour day jobs.
“We were able to win a raise in salary as well as a much stronger healthcare plan during a time of economic downturn,” said janitor Rosalina Gomez. “I am very proud to be standing with my sisters and brothers in our victory…”
“We stood strong, and now I will have peace of mind that I can afford to keep my family healthy,” said Adriana Espinosa, a janitor in downtown Minneapolis and member of the bargaining committee.
Video
Produced by University of Minnesota Labor Education Service
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The win didn’t come easily. When negotiations began three months earlier, the employer group sought wage cuts and benefit take-backs from the 4,000 janitors, members of Service Employees International Union Local 26.
The Local 26 bargaining committee — including 50 members reflecting the diversity of the union — kept pressing for the union’s contract goals.
At the same time, the union built community support, waged escalating actions in the streets and showed it was serious about preparations to go on strike.
Under the new contract, a labor-management committee will cooperate on implementing green initiatives, including the use of green cleaning products wherever possible. If a building switches to day-shift cleaning, janitors there will transition to eight-hour day jobs.
“We were able to win a raise in salary as well as a much stronger healthcare plan during a time of economic downturn,” said janitor Rosalina Gomez. “I am very proud to be standing with my sisters and brothers in our victory…”
“We stood strong, and now I will have peace of mind that I can afford to keep my family healthy,” said Adriana Espinosa, a janitor in downtown Minneapolis and member of the bargaining committee.
Video
Produced by University of Minnesota Labor Education Service