SEIU Local 1 Workers Held Press Conference Outside the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court, Introduced Resolution with Alderman Megan Green

ST. LOUIS, MO—  On Thursday, October 27, Challenge Unlimited janitors, SEIU Local 1 leaders and St. Louis elected officials marched outside the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court to demand justice for the janitors who work there and are employed by an irresponsible contractor, Challenge Unlimited.

“I am a trained floor tech for Challenge Unlimited responsible for stripping and waxing the floors at the Civil Courts in St. Louis,” said Martin Wilson, Challenge Unlimited worker. “My coworkers and I need a union - without it, we are vulnerable in the workplace every day. We don’t get paid enough, we don’t have enough benefits, and workers with documented disabilities get treated lesser than their janitorial counterparts. This isn’t right.”

“For months, Challenge Unlimited workers have been fighting for respect and protection on the job,” said SEIU Local 1 Missouri Director Chris Rak. “Challenge Unlimited operates as a federal AbilityOne Program at the Courts, yet they have failed to provide any rehab or vocational services to workers with disabilities. Additionally, their invoices to the City show inconsistencies that our community deserves answers to. Whether it is Challenge Unlimited, the Courts, or both - someone needs to be held accountable for the unjust actions against workers and St. Louis.”

Following the discoveries of Challenge Unlimited’s actions, Alderman James Lappe introduced the following Resolution that supports Challenge Unlimited workers:

RESOLUTION: SUPPORTING SEIU LOCAL 1’s APPEAL ON BEHALF OF NON-UNION JANITORS AND WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES AT THE 22nd CIRCUIT COURT

Whereas, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities across a broad range of contexts, including employment.

Whereas, the contract for janitorial services at the 22nd Circuit Court is a local City Contract under the jurisdiction of the Board of Estimate & Apportionment.

Whereas, non-Union janitors and people with disabilities employed at the 22nd Circuit Court are an essential part of our workforce.

Whereas, Missouri unemployment insurance law does not apply to: “service performed . . .in a facility conducted for the purpose of carrying out a program of rehabilitation for individuals whose earning capacity is impaired by age or physical or mental deficiency or injury or providing remunerative work for individuals who because of their impaired physical or mental capacity cannot be readily absorbed in the competitive labor market by an individual receiving such rehabilitation or remunerative work” Mo. Rev. Stat § 288.034(9)(4).

Whereas, Challenge Unlimited invokes this state law exemption, withholding from janitors with disabilities at the 22nd Circuit Court access to Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits, despite the contract they are employed under not being rehabilitative in nature.

Whereas, in contrast, UI benefits are provided to janitors without disabilities who perform the same services and labor as janitors with disabilities at the 22nd Circuit Court.

Whereas, it is in the best interest of our City to thoughtfully consider such important factors as the previous conduct, honesty, integrity, skill, business judgment and experience of prospective contractors during the Request For Proposal (RFP) process.

Therefore be it resolved, that it is in the interest of our City to contract janitorial services with a responsible provider at the 22nd Circuit Court that will uphold the highest industry standards.

Be it further resolved, that the Board of Aldermen support Challenge Unlimited workers striving to organize a Union that will provide job protections and equality for all hard working janitors at the 22nd Circuit Court.

This comes after Challenge Unlimited, a contractor chosen by the Courts, wrongfully retaliated against a worker with a documented disability, misled the City on the cost of their services, and is now facing an investigation from both the NLRB and the City of St. Louis.