Office Cleaners Rally For Good Jobs, Strong Communities

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Area office cleaners have hit the streets in recent days to demand their chance at sharing in the American Dream. Negotiations began last week for a new union contract covering over 1,500 cleaners in Montgomery County, Maryland, 5,000 commercial cleaners in Washington, D.C., nearly 4,000 cleaners in Northern Virginia, and over 700 in Baltimore.

SEIU 32BJ, the union for the building workers, presented its contract proposals to representatives of major commercial cleaning companies in the region, including Red Coats, American Building Maintenance (ABM), and Building Maintenance Services.

At a rally in Bethesda last week, the mostly immigrant workers, who earn as little as $10.90 an hour, called upon Montgomery County’s commercial real estate industry last week to share the wealth created with the workers’ help which would in turn benefit local communities.

“Helping Montgomery County protect good jobs is not just a win for working families, but for employers and our community, said State Senator Roger Manno. “Providing hard-working office cleaners with livable wages boosts our economy and local governments with more tax revenue.”

Montgomery County’s commercial office market is growing “and can afford to provide hard-working cleaners a raise,” said Jamie Contreras, 32BJ Capital Area Director. “By ensuring these men and women receive family-sustaining wages, we’re ensuring employers and tenants get a more reliable work force.”

Cleaners rallied at the Ballston mall earlier this week and will hit the streets in Silver Spring today.

photo courtesy Julie Karant, SEIU 32BJ