San Jose, Calif. – Today more than 20,000 janitors united in Service Employees International Union (SEIU) United Service Workers West launched statewide efforts to win a new contract with higher wages, access to quality affordable health care and respect.
"We work hard but still we can’t afford to take care of our families the way we want to," said Maria Granados. "This is all about fighting for a better future for our kids so we can do better than just survive. Just like these successful companies that we clean, we want our families to be able to thrive, too."
What’s at Stake
Janitors who clean commercial office buildings, high-tech and bio-tech industry headquarters and offices throughout California earn wages so low that they struggle to make ends meet and secure decent, affordable housing for themselves and their families. Janitors often live in single rooms or mobile homes and some have even been forced to make their homes in garages. Everyday, janitors travel from their overcrowded homes in California’s low income neighborhoods to clean the offices of some of the wealthiest corporations in the world.
"High-tech and bio-tech industries are creating wealth for so many Americans, all we’re saying is that the California janitors who keep these companies open for business shouldn’t be left out in the cold," said California Assembly member Alberto Torrico, who addressed the janitors in their bargaining convention on Saturday in San Jose.
Making Ends Meet on Poverty Wages
California janitors now earn an average of $19,000 year, well below the $50,832 it takes for a family to meet their basic needs without government assistance, according to the Economic Policy Institute. An average California janitor would need to work more than 100 hours each week to reach the self-sufficiency standard to provide for their family.
"What does it say about the challenges our city faces when janitors who work full time can’t afford to live anywhere near the high tech companies that they clean," said San Jose City Council member and Vice Mayor Dave Cortese. "We have to ensure that everyone who works hard is rewarded with the opportunity to provide a future for their families."
What’s Next
Janitors and their employers will begin bargaining in the coming weeks over one area-wide "master" contract for Northern California including Silicon Valley, the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento, and one "master" contract for Southern California including Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego.
Current contracts covering 20,000 California janitors expire April 2008