By Adam Pagnucco.
Commercial office cleaners who are members of SEIU Local 32BJ plan to hold a strike vote, a rally and a march down Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda this afternoon. Their contract with their area employers association expires on October 15 and a strike is possible. Details of the rally and march appear in the union’s media advisory, which is reprinted below.
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MEDIA ADVISORY FOR: 4:15-5:15 pm on Thursday, October 5, 2023
4:15-4:45 PM Rally: Bethesda Metro Plaza (East-West Hwy. & Wisc. Ave.)
4:45-5:15 PM March: Bethesda Metro Plaza down Wisc. to Bethesda Ave. and back
CONTACT: Julie Karant: jkarant@seiu32bj.org
Commercial Office Cleaners to Hold Strike Vote, March down Wisconsin Ave in Bethesda during Thursday PM Rush Hour
Waldstreicher, Gonzalez to urge employers to settle contract for 1,200 County cleaners by Oct 15 expiration
Bethesda, MD – Maryland State Senator Jeff Waldstreicher and Montgomery County Council Member Natali-Fani Gonzalez will speak to hundreds of immigrant commercial office cleaners at a strike vote rally and march down Wisconsin Ave. during Thursday evening’s rush hour. The October 15, 2023 expiration of the contract with Washington Service Contractors Association looms for 1,200 County cleaners in over 200 buildings, among 9,100 cleaners in the D.C. region and Baltimore.
The industry is already benefiting from the cost savings of a reduction in workforce of 1,000 jobs in the D.C. area since the pandemic. Because actual earnings for cleaners have stagnated amidst skyrocketing inflation and rents, 32BJ cleaners are fighting for wages that keep up with inflation. Montgomery County cleaners earn hourly wages of $17.60 with paid vacation, paid holidays and paid sick leave. Full-time employees have employer paid health insurance, a training, education and legal services fund.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County Council President Evan Glass, At-Large Council Member Laurie-Anne Sayles, Council Members Will Jawando, Sidney Katz, Kate Stewart, Dawn Luedtke, Gabe Albornoz and Fani-Gonzalez are among the 45 lawmakers who signed a pledge of support for a fair contract. The pledge reads, “Cleaners kept our economy afloat during an unprecedented time of uncertainty and continue to be the glue keeping our downtowns from total collapse. Likewise, they are critical to reviving our downtowns for residents and visitors alike. Our city’s economic recovery hinges on workers returning to the office and supporting downtown businesses. I stand with these cleaners and their union, 32BJ SEIU, in their efforts to win an agreement that includes fair wages and benefits. To survive the COVID-19 pandemic, society placed the burden on cleaners who were officially deemed “Essential” under federal and state guidelines. They have made great sacrifices in the past two years, nearly 200 members of 32BJ who work in buildings along the East Coast lost their lives to COVID-19.”
“These men and women were considered essential during the pandemic, but the industry is treating them as if they’re disposable by trying to cut wages that don’t even keep up with inflation,” said 32BJ Executive Vice President, Jaime Contreras. “Janitors sacrificed their health and lives keeping our downtowns and economy running and they are key to their recovery.”
One of the top owners in Bethesda, JBG Smith owns and manages a portfolio including commercial and residential buildings, with rents totaling over $244 million in the first 6 months of this year alone. In 2022, the CEO of JBG Smith made over $7 million in total compensation.
With more than 175,000 members in nine states, including 21,000 in the D.C. Metropolitan Area and Baltimore, MD, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service workers union in the country.
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