Los Angeles, CA – Janitors who clean California’s leading supermarkets rallied today outside the Ralphs supermarket in downtown Los Angeles. Joined by protesters dressed up as fruits, vegetables and toxic cleaning chemicals, janitors expressed concerns about the safety of chemicals used to clean supermarkets and the potential dangers to workers and consumers.
“Every time I use the stripper chemical the fumes make me dizzy, nauseous, and hurt my throat,” says Victor Rivera, who has cleaned Ralphs markets for more than twelve years. “I worry about my safety and I wonder whether these kind of strong chemicals should be used around all the food in the markets. That doesn’t seem safe to me.”
Speakers at the rally criticized supermarkets who continue to use toxic cleaning chemicals that present a clear danger to workers. Many of these chemicals have caused skin burns, rashes, long-term respiratory problems, and constant headaches for the workers. Janitors protested the lack of training or safety equipment offered to them for using these hazardous chemicals.
“They don’t provide us with the safety equipment that we need,” says Heriberta Sandoval, who has cleaned supermarkets for over seven years. “There are safer chemicals, I think that we should use them.”
Others voiced concerns about using these toxic chemicals alongside fresh produce and other food products in grocery stores. Many public institutions across the country, such as schools and jails, have begun using less hazardous cleaning materials. With safer alternative available, speakers asked why supermarkets continue to use toxic chemicals which are harmful to the environment and the safety of workers.
Janitors also protested the supermarket chain’s plan to shift more of the cost of health care onto working families. They especially questioned why markets are asking them to pay more while the stores are making solid profits. Despite the recession, supermarkets are earning strong profits—Ralphs just reported a profit of $1.25 billion for 2008 and is forecasted to do well this year too.
“Just like other hard-working people throughout California, supermarket janitors are struggling to make ends meet in this recession. Yet the markets want them to pay more out-of-pocket for health care,” said Mike Garcia, President of SEIU Local 1877, the janitors’ union. “It’s not fair, and we expect more of Ralphs. We expect them to stand up and take a leadership role to ensure that we have quality jobs in California.”
The supermarket janitors clean the leading markets in California including Ralphs, Albertsons and Vons. There are 2,300 janitors represented in Southern California.