The workers voted to approve a strike earlier this month, and just this week announced Sunday as the deadline to win new contracts before going on strike.
“We’re ready and willing to negotiate,” said Alfredo Estrada, a janitor at the Minnesota Center. “We’ll be here as late as it takes to negotiate a fair contract. We have sleeping bags and pillows and we’re ready to talk through the night to make sure that hard work gets rewarded in Minnesota again.”
The Minneapolis-St. Paul Contract Cleaners Association has told Service Employees International Union Local 26 they are also prepared to stay as late as it takes. Initial proposals from the janitorial employers included cutting more than 1,200 full-time positions, which would eliminate employer-based insurance benefits and outsource employers’ healthcare costs to Minnesota taxpayers—without the consent or knowledge of the public.
Security employers, however, have said they will only negotiate until 4 p.m.
“Employers need to take their responsibility seriously,” said Brahim Kone, a janitor at Flint Hills refinery. “We look forward to finding an agreement that allows us to work our way into the middle class and move the entire community forward.”
Separate contracts for janitors and security officers expired simultaneously on Dec. 31. Since then, more than 6,000 workers throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan have been working without a contract. Janitors and security officers work side-by-side, cleaning and protect property for contractors at some of Minnesota’s richest corporations.
A new contract would represent the first important victory in a planned “Unlock Our Future” week of action being coordinated by members of Minnesota community, student, environmental, and labor groups.
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Analysis: Making the whole city your bargaining committee
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The workers voted to approve a strike earlier this month, and just this week announced Sunday as the deadline to win new contracts before going on strike.
“We’re ready and willing to negotiate,” said Alfredo Estrada, a janitor at the Minnesota Center. “We’ll be here as late as it takes to negotiate a fair contract. We have sleeping bags and pillows and we’re ready to talk through the night to make sure that hard work gets rewarded in Minnesota again.”
The Minneapolis-St. Paul Contract Cleaners Association has told Service Employees International Union Local 26 they are also prepared to stay as late as it takes. Initial proposals from the janitorial employers included cutting more than 1,200 full-time positions, which would eliminate employer-based insurance benefits and outsource employers’ healthcare costs to Minnesota taxpayers—without the consent or knowledge of the public.
Security employers, however, have said they will only negotiate until 4 p.m.
“Employers need to take their responsibility seriously,” said Brahim Kone, a janitor at Flint Hills refinery. “We look forward to finding an agreement that allows us to work our way into the middle class and move the entire community forward.”
Separate contracts for janitors and security officers expired simultaneously on Dec. 31. Since then, more than 6,000 workers throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan have been working without a contract. Janitors and security officers work side-by-side, cleaning and protect property for contractors at some of Minnesota’s richest corporations.
A new contract would represent the first important victory in a planned “Unlock Our Future” week of action being coordinated by members of Minnesota community, student, environmental, and labor groups.
Related story
Analysis: Making the whole city your bargaining committee