Janitors to Mark 21st "Justice for Janitors Day" With Protests against Unfair Economy In 15 U.S. Cities

Seeking to Strengthen America's Beleaguered Middle Class…

CHICAGO, June 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Seeking to strengthen America's beleaguered middle class, janitors across the country this week will mark the 21^st Annual Justice for Janitors Day by protesting an economy that many consider unbalanced, unjust, and unfair.

"The middle class in this country is under the gun," says Martha Martinez, a janitor employed by ABM at the Century City Towers in Los Angeles. "While big corporations are getting all the money, a lot of people don't have jobs. And even more people are working for a living but not making a living."

June 15 is the 21st anniversary of the brutal 1990 clubbing by Los Angeles police officers of low-wage janitors protesting in the city's ritzy Century City district. Violent images of police quashing the protest were seen around the world, galvanizing public opinion in favor of the janitors, who subsequently won their first union contract. Their movement, "Justice for Janitors," lifted thousands out of poverty. But with rising prices in recent years, janitors, like many Americans, have seen their standard of living erode. Cleaners are again speaking out for fair wages, quality affordable healthcare, and full-time, family-sustaining jobs for their communities.

This week janitors will lead or participate in protests calling for economic justice in 15 U.S. cities—Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Florham Park, N.J., Hartford, Conn., Irvine, Calif., Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Stamford, Conn., Washington DC, and White Plains, N.Y.

• In Boston on Wednesday, janitors will protest outside the offices of corporate giant GE, where cleaners at GE's Lynn facilities are paid as little as $8 per hour and have allegedly been denied the freedom to form a union.
• In Chicago on Tuesday, hundreds of janitors will join thousands of protesters at a meeting of CFO's of many big corporations to urge good jobs, excellent schools, and an end to home foreclosures.
• In Philadelphia on Wednesday, hundreds of janitors will march to the Comcast building in support of good jobs, better schools, and stronger communities.

Cleaners will hold similar events in Australia, Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

With 2.2 million members, SEIU is the nation's fastest-growing labor union and represents 225,000 janitors in North America. Visit seiu.org

SOURCE Service Employees International Union

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