May Day Strike Averted
After a nearly yearlong campaign involving multiple actions throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties, SEIU-USWW janitors in Southern California voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratifying cleaning contractors’ last, best, and final offer for a new 4-year contract.
According to the agreement, janitors will keep their current health insurance plan. Additionally, they won wage increases in each of the next four years which will help them keep pace with the rising cost of living. They also achieved new language that protects immigrant workers against invasions of their privacy and provides economic disincentives against employers’ use of background checks and e-Verify.
This was a hard fought battle against the 1%, but janitors proved that no one can hold back organized workers and a unified L.A. labor movement when it comes to providing for our families.
On April 25, L.A. Labor voted unanimously to support the janitors if they went on strike and dozens of union leaders held a press conference in solidarity.
Congratulations to the fighting janitors of SEIU-USWW! When we fight; we win!
