Janitors with Service Employees International Union Local 1 (SEIU) won a “historic victory” this weekend when members unanimously ratified a new downtown master contract that will pave the way for a $15 hourly wage.
The five-year agreement covers many of Cleveland’s most notable downtown properties — Tower City, 200 Public Square, the Ernst and Young Building among them. The 500 janitors who keep these properties clean will see their wages increase by as much as 25 percent by 2023.
In a press statement Saturday, SEIU said that the wage hike was four times higher than what janitors won in their previous contract, and that the additional wages translate into an extra $13,104 to $16,744 for each downtown janitor over the life of the agreement.
“Our janitor-led ‘One Cleveland’ campaign has proved to be a historic success, and I’m so proud of how we came together to win a better future for our city,” said Brian Yarbrough, a janitor at the Fifth Third Center, in the statement. “The wages and benefits we won will provide a game-changing boost for our families and Cleveland’s most neglected communities. While Cleveland janitors have won a major victory, we won’t stop until all Ohio janitors earn at least $15 and can fully support their families.”
The contract negotiations occurred as part of SEIU’s “One Cleveland” campaign. Among other things, it sought to dramatize the injustice of poor janitors of color — SEIU Local 1’s membership is majority black and majority female — cleaning some of the city’s most generously subsidized buildings. The downtown master contract agreement follows similar agreements at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), the Cleveland Orchestra and the ArcelorMittal Steel Mill. Most of these workers are now on pathways to $15.
All told, the increased wages, affecting 700 janitors, will inject roughly $11 million into Cleveland’s low-income neighborhoods.
This article appears in Apr 24-30, 2019.
They didnt win anything Sam. They just lost jobs for some of the workers. You keep ignoring how wages are raised through sacrificing jobs for a portion of the workers. Its almost like youre learning impaired Sam.
Look at Clevelands finest in that photo with the justice sign. Hahaha. Morons
Another misguided story by Allard. Who believes anything you say. People know youre committed to keeping Cleveland a third world city.
Of course the extra money will just come right back to the government in the form of lottery ticket sales. Those looking for handouts and those that overvalue their efforts never learn how to save and spend wisely.