Calif. – Hundreds of janitors marched today in cities across the state including San Diego, Santa Ana, Los Angeles, Oakland and Sacramento in a statewide day of action launching efforts to win a new contract with higher wages, access to health care and respect, among other issues.
“I know we really do need health care for our families and with the struggle that we are mounting, with the work that we are doing along with janitors all across California, I believe we will win.” said Sylvia Monroy, a janitor who works in San Diego. Most Americans get access to health care through their employment, but many San Diego area janitors are not able to access quality, affordable healthcare for themselves or their families even though they work hard and pay taxes. Nearly 2,000 of the state’s 20,000 janitors work in the San Diego area.
Today’s coordinated marches and rallies started a spring season of SEIU Justice for Janitors campaign activity that will continue to grow throughout the coming weeks as contract negotiations begin for 20,000 California janitors united in SEIU Local 1877. Current contracts are set to expire this April. The SEIU Justice for Janitors 2008 California Contract Campaign is the janitors union’s largest statewide mobilization effort in history.