After the office doors close and the phones stop ringing, the "invisible" workforce filters into downtown buildings. Janitors sweep and polish floors and clean windows. Security guards patrol silent hallways.
Too often, these workers are unseen and unappreciated, says the union that represents them, Service Employees International Union Local 26. On Wednesday (June 15), hundreds of union members joined a "Justice for Janitors" march through downtown Minneapolis to call for full-time jobs with health care for building service workers.
"We are here today to say, 'We are not invisible,'" Local 26 Business Representative Javier Morillo-Alicea said.
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| The demonstrators' purple shirts stood out as they marched through downtown Minneapolis. |
The crowd included immigrants from several different countries, who make up a large segment of the building services workforce in Minnesota. They were joined by native Minnesotans who also are employed in the industry, and members of other unions who participated to show support.
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak addressed the group and read a proclamation for "Justice for Janitors" Day. Several Minneapolis City Council members also attended a rally held before the march.
"This is a day not only for janitors but for every person in this state," Rybak said. He called on Minnesotans to value the work done by everyone.
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| Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak talked to an SEIU member after issuing a proclamation declaring "Justice for Janitors" Day. |
As they marched down the sidewalk, the SEIU members ? clad in bright purple t-shirts ? attracted a lot of attention from other downtown workers on their lunch breaks. They handed out leaflets outlining the union's program for dignity and respect on the job and engaged passersby in conversation. A few people even joined in the blocklong procession as it paraded through downtown, to the beat of drums and the sound of whistles blowing.
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| Many immigrants are employed in the building services industry. They include (from left) Roon Ali of Kenya, Elba Munoz of Mexico and Faduma Abukar of Somalia. |
Local 26 represents about 5,000 building service workers in Minnesota. Wednesday's event was part of a global day of activity on five continents. At British consulates and embassies in the United States, Germany, France, Sweden, the Netherlands, South Africa and elsewhere, janitors held demonstrations in solidarity with their counterparts at the British Parliament, who are barely eking out a living, according to the SEIU.
Numerous other actions were held in U.S. cities, from Boston and Chicago to Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Seattle.
"Workers in property services unions across the globe . . . are coming together in new ways to hold multinational corporations accountable to the concerns of working people," the SEIU said in a statement announcing the events.
For more information
Visit the SEIU website, www.seiu.org
 |
| Kay and Michael Sanchez joined their father Ismael (center) in making noise during the march. |
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After the office doors close and the phones stop ringing, the “invisible” workforce filters into downtown buildings. Janitors sweep and polish floors and clean windows. Security guards patrol silent hallways.
Too often, these workers are unseen and unappreciated, says the union that represents them, Service Employees International Union Local 26. On Wednesday (June 15), hundreds of union members joined a “Justice for Janitors” march through downtown Minneapolis to call for full-time jobs with health care for building service workers.
“We are here today to say, ‘We are not invisible,'” Local 26 Business Representative Javier Morillo-Alicea said.
|
| The demonstrators’ purple shirts stood out as they marched through downtown Minneapolis. |
The crowd included immigrants from several different countries, who make up a large segment of the building services workforce in Minnesota. They were joined by native Minnesotans who also are employed in the industry, and members of other unions who participated to show support.
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak addressed the group and read a proclamation for “Justice for Janitors” Day. Several Minneapolis City Council members also attended a rally held before the march.
“This is a day not only for janitors but for every person in this state,” Rybak said. He called on Minnesotans to value the work done by everyone.
|
| Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak talked to an SEIU member after issuing a proclamation declaring “Justice for Janitors” Day. |
As they marched down the sidewalk, the SEIU members ? clad in bright purple t-shirts ? attracted a lot of attention from other downtown workers on their lunch breaks. They handed out leaflets outlining the union’s program for dignity and respect on the job and engaged passersby in conversation. A few people even joined in the blocklong procession as it paraded through downtown, to the beat of drums and the sound of whistles blowing.
|
| Many immigrants are employed in the building services industry. They include (from left) Roon Ali of Kenya, Elba Munoz of Mexico and Faduma Abukar of Somalia. |
Local 26 represents about 5,000 building service workers in Minnesota. Wednesday’s event was part of a global day of activity on five continents. At British consulates and embassies in the United States, Germany, France, Sweden, the Netherlands, South Africa and elsewhere, janitors held demonstrations in solidarity with their counterparts at the British Parliament, who are barely eking out a living, according to the SEIU.
Numerous other actions were held in U.S. cities, from Boston and Chicago to Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Seattle.
“Workers in property services unions across the globe . . . are coming together in new ways to hold multinational corporations accountable to the concerns of working people,” the SEIU said in a statement announcing the events.
For more information
Visit the SEIU website, www.seiu.org
|
| Kay and Michael Sanchez joined their father Ismael (center) in making noise during the march. |