Overwhelmingly, more than 20,000 janitors who clean thousands of California’s largest office buildings, studios and technology and biotech campuses voted to strike, starting May 6, after denouncing unfair labor practices and what they called “ an insult” about the salary increases proposed by numerous companies.
The work stoppage will include 1,200 Orange County janitors; 2000, from Sacramento; another 2,000 from San Diego; 6,000 from San Francisco and 8,500 janitors from Los Angeles, All of them are affiliated with the SEIU United Service Workers West (USWW) union.
With their contract set to expire on April 30, at least 1,200 janitors invaded the streets of Century City and caused traffic chaos between the Avenue of the Arts and Santa Monica Boulevard, where the stronghold of the companies that , they say, they exploit them and where 34 years ago they were beaten back by the Los Angeles police when they tried to silence their protests.
“We want a better contract,” said José Ángel, a janitor born in Usulután, El Salvador. “What they offer us is a pittance; just 25 cents.”
The members of the union, who are mostly immigrant women, denounce abusive workloads and an industry that exploits and abuses them based on their immigration status.
“One damage against one! Damage against everyone! “Shouted the protesters who gathered at the intersection of the busy Avenue of Stars and Galaxy.
“I voted in favor of the strike,” said Ricardo Contreras, a Valencia Mall worker. “I did it because with the union we can maintain our benefits of a regular salary and vacations.”
Regarding the work he has done over the 10 years, Ricardo complained about the physical overload that is required, and that it has caused injuries to some of his colleagues.
They work injured and medicated
In fact, a recent study by the California Department of Industrial Relations highlights the conditions that janitors face on the job, including the fact that approximately one-third of janitors in California were injured on the job last year.
The report evaluates associations between physical workload, job strain, and adverse physical and mental health.
Adverse results for the physical health of janitors include: Severe pain in various regions of the body: neck, shoulder, elbow. hand, wrist, back, hip, knee and ankle.
To mitigate the effects of work overload or injuries, many use analgesics regularly to relieve pain.
“Most of us, almost 70%, are medicated for pain in our arms and joints,” said Martha Mejía, a 40-year-old Mexican woman. “Many of us have had surgery because we have a job that is definitely killing us.”
“We are going to go on strike to make the building owners clean their bathrooms, and to take out their garbage to see what it feels like,” said Mrs. Mejía, originally from Mexico City. “We are like modern slaves and we are exploited within the workplace. It is not fair that we live and go to work solely because of the impulse to take our pain medications.”
“We are not slaves to anyone”: David Huerta
David Huerta, president of the SEIU-USWW, told La Opinión that, even when contractual negotiations with the companies are maintained, a strike can be avoided.
“It all depends on the employer, right now they are just putting things on the table. [aumentos de] 25 cents per hour and 5 cents for [los conserjes de] San Diego; They have not put in an autonomy package for Northern California either.”
He added that “time is urgent and we are negotiating in good faith, but at the end of the day, if we do not have decent salaries, if we do not have the benefits to protect the health of our families, with a decent retirement and sustainable work, we are going to go on strike because we are not slaves to anyone, and what they offer is an insult.”
Huerta specified that workers fight for the dignity, respect and justice they deserve.
“We are workers, immigrants who come to this country to fight for something better. “We are not here to be cheap labor for those millionaires.”
He stressed that if California represents the fifth largest economy in the world, it should be reflected in the salaries and benefits of SEIU-USWW worker membership.
No cleaning services
Janitors are currently in contract negotiations with California’s largest janitorial employer including ABM, Metro Services, SBM Site Services, Service by Medallion, Allied Universal, DMS, Spencer Building Maintenance, United Building Maintenance, AUJS, Peerless, Merchants & Servicon.
The ABM chain, one of the main ones that would be affected by the strike, did not respond before the closure about how it would operate if the work stoppage takes effect.
If the strike goes into effect on May 6, thousands of office buildings, tech campuses and studios in California’s largest cities could be left without cleaning services.
Contract negotiations will continue over the coming weeks. Janitors in Los Angeles and the Bay Area are fighting for secure workloads and to reach $25 an hour over the next four years.
For decades, the Justice for Janitors movement has been fighting to clean up an industry plagued by abuse and exploitation.
Rape, sexual assault, and physical abuse are common because contractors take advantage of immigrant workers and their status.
While janitors have won important victories, including protections against wage theft and the nation’s first legislation to combat sexual assault (AB 1978 and AB 2079), their fight continues.
Sacrifice to win
Milagro Climaco, her husband Alexander Vázquez and her son Matthew A. López marched as a family in defense of their rights.
However, Milagro, who has only been a janitor for a year, was hesitant about whether or not to support the strike. She had a fear of being fired from her job and the mistaken belief that she would be disenrolled from the union.
“They pay me more or less [$20 por hora], but that is not enough to cover the currently expensive cost of living,” he said. “My job is temporary and what I have seen is that many people are having their work hours cut.”
In addition to Los Angeles, there were simultaneous protest marches in San Diego, Newport Beach and San Jose.
“We know that corporations have too much greed and will always try to find ways to pay less,” said Los Angeles Councilman Hugo Soto-Martínez. “My mother [Angelita Martínez Pérez] “He was also a janitor and that is why I support the workers’ struggle.”
Aware that a probable work stoppage is looming, Soto-Martínez analyzed that, at times where the cost of living and rent is too high “it will be very difficult.”
“It is a tremendous sacrifice; It is not something that is done in a very simple way. “Everyone has to talk to their family members, their children, and save money knowing the sacrifice they are going to make,” he stressed.
“But I know that when they win, if they go on strike and get what they want, their sacrifice will be rewarded many times over.”