Look What Happens When Workers Organize

Ending months of negotiation, a union representing Greater Cincinnati's janitors will vote Sunday on their first-ever city-wide labor contract, which would give them higher wages, more work hours, and health insurance.

The local chapter of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) likely will approve the contract in a ratification vote, union leaders say. If approved, the income of the majority of workers would increase by 129 percent over the course of the contract — nearly doubling their income of workers at the lowest end of the spectrum within the first 18 months alone.

“It’s tremendous news,” says Kevin O’Donnell, a union organizer. “This will change a lot of lives.”
Leaders were seeking increased pay and better access to health care for its workers. Although Greater Cincinnati is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies with a combined estimated annual revenue of $177 billion, many janitors are paid less than $28 a day with no health care or other benefits.
The union's local chapter formed in December and represents about 1,200 workers. It has been negotiating with area cleaning companies since March and held a strike authorization vote earlier this month in advance of the final two days of negotiation, held Wednesday and Thursday.
If the union approves the contract, janitors who currently earn the Ohio minimum wage of $6.85 an hour will receive an immediate increase to $7.05 Oct. 1. Janitors’ pay would increase to $7.55 per hour on Jan. 1, 2008 and jump to $8.15 per hour Jan. 1, 2009. That would be followed by an increase to $8.35 by Jan. 1, 2010, $8.85 by Jan/ 1, 2011, and $9.80 by Jan. 1, 2012.

Also, the proposed contract would increase work hours for janitors currently provided with only four hours of work each night to seven hours per shift in the first two-and-a-half years. The additional hours and the wage increase mean that the majority of janitors will see their income rise by about 129 percent over the course of the five-year contract.

If the contract is approved, Cincinnati janitors would also receive health insurance coverage for the first time. Individual health insurance would be offered at a cost of $20 per month; family insurance would be available for $198 per month. The health insurance will become available starting Jan. 1, 2010.

Another provision would give janitors six paid holidays per year and the ability to accrue paid vacation time beginning the first year of the contract.
Negotiations were held with eight cleaning companies: ABM, Jancoa, Professional Maintenance of Cincinnati, Aetna Building Maintenance, Scioto Corp, NSG, OneSource, and GSF. Combined, they provide cleaning services to about two-thirds of the region's office space, including major corporations such as Fifth-Third Bank, Procter & Gamble, Convergys, Macy's and Western & Southern.
Union leaders described the negotiations as “constructive, cordial talks.”

SEIU’s “Justice for Janitors” union organizing campaign has also won contracts in Houston and Miami, and similar efforts are underway in Columbus and Indianapolis.

— Kevin Osborne

Comments

[Howard Roark]

"If approved, the income of the majority of workers would increase by 129 percent over the course of the contract..."

Oh really? The union represents approx. 1,200 janitors and the pay increases span until 2012. How many of those 1,200 will be around that long to realize the 129 percent increase?

Also, if shifts are lengthened from four to seven hours, wouldn't there be less of a need for existing and/or additional janitors since one person will now be able to do what once took two people to do?

[Howard Roark]

Come on Kev.....cat got your tongue?