EMERYVILLE, CA – As state officials go after cleaning contractors for flagrant violations of labor laws, janitors that clean IKEA stores in Northern California will march and rally today to decry Excel Building Services’
alleged illegal firings, interrogations, harassment, and retaliation against janitors.
In the past two months, Excel Building Services has illegally fired ten janitors at Emeryville and Palo Alto IKEA stores, according to the janitors who have filed claims against the company with the National Labor Relations Board. This comes as the janitors that clean IKEA stores are coming together to form a union with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to lift themselves and their families up out of poverty.
IKEA’s lawbreaking cleaning contractor, Excel Building Services, is under investigation for discriminating against IKEA janitors and illegal terminations at Emeryville and Palo Alto IKEA stores. Community leaders, students and janitors are calling on the contractor to end the unjust practices that are leaving janitors out in the cold this holiday season and engage in dialogue for a resolution before the new year.
Excel has already been fined by the City of San Francisco and settled a class action lawsuit for paying illegally low wages. Additionally, on September 19, 2007 Excel settled a National Labor Relations Board case for illegal termination of IKEA janitors and worker discrimination. This follows the more than six occasions since 2004 where Excel Building Services, has been found guilty, by the Office of Labor Standard Enforcement, for violating worker’s rights.
To learn more about the struggle of janitors at IKEA stores this holiday season visit www.CleanUpIKEA.com a website launched to keep a watch on the illegal activities of Excel Building Services at Bay Area IKEA stores.
WHAT: SEIU Justice for Janitors march, rally, and non-violent
demonstration; community, clergy and students to call on Excel
Building Services to stop being a Grinch and end their illegal
firing of workers.
WHEN: Noon, Thursday Dec. 20, 2007
WHERE: Emeryville IKEA
VISUAL: Community leaders, students, workers in purple t-shirts marching
across the Emeryville bridge to the front of the IKEA store chanting, carrying signs and banner and making noise. The march will end in a rally and will be joined by a Grinch to symbolize Excel Building Service’s alleged illegal “Grinch” activities this
holiday season.