The campaign focuses on the commercial office market, where building owners typically hire a janitorial contractor to provide cleaning services at night. Without organizing a union, janitors in this industry typically make the minimum wage, sometimes even below. Not to mention how difficult it is for a family to make ends meet on the minimum wage in today’s economy, one fact we must realize is that this is not minimum wage work. Cleaning bathrooms, mopping and vacuuming floors, and hauling away loads of trash is extremely demanding. And since the work is typically part-time and hourly, employers consistently put pressure on the workers to get things done faster and with the least amount of employees possible. But despite all this, what’s more challenging for janitors is their struggle to be treated with respect and appreciation. Generally, they are not provided benefits like health coverage and sick days. And even in cases where non-union janitors might make a little more than the minimum wage or receive partial health coverage, they do not have protection from injustices like discrimination, favoritism, and unannounced workload and schedule changes.

SEIU Local 615 represents and organizes about 18,000 property service workers (like janitors, security guards, and food service workers) in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Approximately 14,000 of our members are janitors. Currently in Worcester, about half of the commercial office space is cleaned by non-union contractors. Not only does this mean that about half the janitors in Worcester are making poverty wages, but it also means that responsible contractors are loosing bids to these cheaper companies. This brings down the standards for the entire industry, which means bringing down the quality of jobs in Worcester. In comparison, over 95% of Boston office space is cleaned by union contractors. As a result, janitors in Boston make about $4.50 more per hour than Worcester janitors – there aren’t any non-union companies to bring the wages down. It’s time for Worcester janitors to have the same standard.

Improving the working standards of Worcester’s janitors will mean more income to the families and neighborhoods that truly need it. Parents’ would be able to lessen their hours or perhaps quit one of their jobs to spend time with their children or in the community, freeing up jobs for the unemployed and our youth. Also, employer-paid health benefits and sick days would take some of the burden off the state-funded system and ensure healthier communities.

SEIU 615 is gearing up to bring Justice for Janitors to Worcester. Organizing in this industry is not an easy task, and widespread community support has always been vital to the campaign’s success in each city. With backing from the Worcester public, their voices are made immensely louder and more irrefutable. More to come soon regarding how you and your family, network, organization, etc. can get involved as we move forward.