Sacramento Labor Announces Full Support for Janitors,
Will Honor Downtown Picket Lines in Event of a Strike
Working families support janitors’ fight for decent wages and access to health care
Sacramento, CA –Janitors considering a strike received complete support today from a collective 160,000 Sacramento–area workers and their families. Janitors here, the lowest–paid in the state, are fighting for livable wages and a shorter waiting period for family health care. At the same time janitors are fighting for a better future, they are facing intimidation in the workplace from their supervisors. They have set a strike vote for Saturday, June 14, the day their contract extension runs out.
"These hard–working janitors are asking for nothing more than a decent wage and health care for more of their families," said Bill Camp, Executive Secretary and CEO of the Sacramento Central Labor Council. "The 160,000 working families represented by the Sacramento Central Labor Council stand shoulder to shoulder with these hard–working brothers and sisters. An injury to any janitor is an injury to every worker. Unfair treatment of any janitor is unfair to every worker."
The strike sanction covers janitors employed by thirteen janitorial contracting firms who work in many of Sacramento’s largest buildings, subcontracted by some of the most profitable commercial real estate giants such as Hines, CB Richard Ellis, Buzz Oates and Jones Lang La Salle.
Working full time, janitors average $17,680 annually, 48% below the "self sufficiency wage" for a family of two in Sacramento. For example, an average janitor would spend 55% of their monthly income on rent for a one-bedroom apartment at "fair market rate" – leaving less than $600 for food, transportation, healthcare, childcare, and all other family expenses.
In addition to inadequate wages, Sacramento janitors are currently forced to wait in limbo for 2 ½ years before their families become eligible for health care, meaning that thousands of janitors’ family members receive inadequate care while taxpayers are often left with the bill.
Janitors last went out on strike in 2003, many winning health coverage for the first time, but accepting some of the most extreme waiting periods to qualify for family coverage in the state – 2 ½ years. In the years since, wages have fallen far behind union janitors in the rest of California.
Janitors also visited the Sacramento City Council Tuesday, asking for their support.
*** Save the Date: Community Rally in Support of Janitors ***
Thursday, June 12, 2008, 12:00 Noon
Cesar Chavez Park, 915 I Street, downtown Sacramento