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Janitors in Detroit and Cleveland Overwhelmingly Ratify Contracts that Raise Wage and Pension Contributions, Protect Health Care Benefits

Detroit’s janitors ratified their four-year contract on August 12th.  Janitors made gains despite Michigan’s tough economy that is seeing major lay-offs in the auto and airline industries.  The janitors will receive a $1.10 in wage increases over the lifetime of the contract.  There will also be an increase in pension contributions and janitors will continue to have access to full health care coverage.  More.

Detroit Gears Up for June Contract Fight

Congressman Conyers, Deputy Mayor and Others Speak in Support of Janitors Open Letter Release

Letter signed by area leaders calls on Metro Detroit residents for support

On August 30th, janitors in Detroit stood in unison with key religious, community, union and elected officials who have signed and publicly released an open letter to the residents of Metro Detroit that highlights the janitors fight to protect quality wages and benefits in their industry.  They gathered in front of 1001 Woodward, the downtown building that fired its long-time union janitors and replaced them with non-union workers earning half the pay, working half the hours and receiving none of the benefits the union janitors received. 

Janitor Art Delbridge stands in unison with former 1001 Woodward janitors Cleveland Neal and Pat Feeley.

1001 Woodward now stands as an eyesore to many other buildings in downtown Detroit where janitors are offered decent wages and quality benefits.  It is buildings like this that are forcing cleaning companies in a race to the bottom over who can provide the cheapest cleaning services.  This downward spiral is disrupting lives and forcing people to work between 2 and 3 jobs just to survive.

Pam Owens, a janitor at the Millender Center for over 18 years, has spent years fighting contract after contract for better wages and benefits.  “I do not want my employer to feel that they can get away with destroying what I and my co-workers in the union have built.  What 1001 Woodward has done is tearing down Detroit, making us a symbol of poverty, not progress.”

Congressman John Conyers Jr., one of the many area leaders on hand, express his support for the janitors as well.  “I support development in Detroit, but as we rebuild this great City we cannot allow building owners to take away good paying jobs in the process.  By fighting for these jobs, we are able to ensure economic growth for not just the building owners, but also for our hardworking and dedicated citizens.”

Janitors Fight Back Terminations at Downtown Detroit Building

Local 3 Leads Campaign to Hold Airport Authority Accountable

Ford Field Ushers in Detroit Vote Overwhelmingly
to Join Local 3

On November 1, 2004 over 650 Ushers at Detroit's Ford Field became official members of SEIU Local 3.  The Ushers voted over 15 to 1 in favor of the new contract, which helps bring them up to industry standards in Detroit.  Richard Hines, the onsite Steward, was thrilled with contract.  "It is about time we make the same wages as someone doing the same job down the street at Comerica Park or Joe Louis Arena." Ushers who had been working at Ford Field since 2002 saw an immediate $0.90 hourly increase moving from $7.25 to $8.20 per hour. Starting wages also increased by $0.45 per hour.  Local 3 is still negotiating with Knight Facilities on behalf of the Janitors at Ford Field.

SEIU Local 3 Charges Wayne County Airport Janitors Illegally Laid Off

Since April of 2004 Detroit has been fighting back against the layoff of 83 Metro Airport Janitors.  In August of last year Local 3 sued the Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) and Knight Facilities Management, the contractor representing the new, non-union workforce in light of evidence that the bidding process for the Airport's contract was done illegally.  Since the suit was announced, Knight has sought to delay the legal process by removing the lawsuit from state court to federal court.  Since the lawsuit only relates to state law claims, Local 3 filed a motion that the suit be sent back to state court. That hearing on the Local's counter claim didn't take place until December 16th, nearly 4 months after the original filing! Despite these stall tactics, Local 3 has no intention of giving up the fight. The Local is continuing to mobilize workers to fight this injustice.  Watch the website for further details

For more information:

 Detroit Janitors lose jobs because of airport cutbacks —Detroit News
 Detroit Janitors file suit over loss of jobs — Michigan Citizen
 Detroit Janitors file suit over loss of jobs —Crain's Detroit Business