Polish Daily News: Janitors in downtown Chicago are demanding a fair contract
Hundreds of janitors, including Polish immigrants, members of the SEIU Local 1 labor union, took part in a rally and march organized in downtown Chicago on Wednesday. On the eve of the start of bargaining for a new contract, they demanded fair pay and working conditions.
By Joanna Marszalek, Dziennik Zwiazkowy (Polish Daily News)
On the afternoon of Wednesday, March 13, janitors, members of the SEIU Local 1 trade union, gathered for a rally by the Daley Center, and then marched through the city center, passing many office buildings where they maintain cleanliness and order on a daily basis.
The workers were joined by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, about a dozen Chicago aldermen, Cook County Executive Toni Preckwinkle and several county commissioners.
Contracts covering 11,000 janitors expire on April 8. Negotiations were to start on March 14. According to the union, workers clean 65,000 square feet of office space during the day. Many of them walk up to 20,000 steps (or about 9 miles) during each shift.
The union's press release stated that their janitorial members service 85 percent of the commercial office buildings in Cook County and have been keeping downtown clean and tidy for years, also during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the SEIU (Service Employee International Union) website, Local 1 has approximately 50,000 members in six states and 11 Midwest cities, including the largest numbers of janitors, window cleaners, security guards and airport workers. According to Klaudia Siczek from Local 1's communications department, its members include approximately 3,000 Poles.
Original article: https://dziennikzwiazkowy.com/chicago/pracownicy-sprzatajacy-w-centrum-chicago-domagaja-sie-uczciwego-kontraktu/#google_vignette