Janitor’s union approves strike if deal not reached
Jun 24, 2012, 10:13 AM | Updated: Jun 25, 2012, 6:37 am
Local janitors have authorized their bargaining team to
call a strike if their employers continue to push for
major cuts in their medical benefits.
About 3,000 workers in the greater Seattle area working in
restaurants, retail outlets, and office buildings would be
affected by the strike.
Tania Maria Rosario, with the Service Employees
International Union Local 6, says the contract proposed by
the region’s janitorial companies is the equivalent of a
13 percent reduction in wages over the next five years.
The union had proposed an earlier deal that continued
current medical benefits and increased wages according to
inflation.
“They have no problem working hard, they don’t have any
problem working late into the evening. They have a real
problem paying most of their paycheck back to their
employer in order to cover family medical [bills],” says
Rosario.
The janitors have been negotiating since May 8, and their
current contract expires on June 30.
The vote authorizes a strike if no deal is reached 10 days
after the contract expires.
