Just received this release from SEIU:
Houston—Just one day before the Houston janitors’ historic 2006 agreement was set to expire, janitors and four of the city’s leading cleaning contractors—ABM, GCA, ISS/Sanitors and Aztec—have agreed to a contract extension that will maintain wages and benefits for 3,200 Houston workers.
“The extension will enable thousands of working families to keep what we have won,” says Houston janitor Lidia Aguillón, a member of the janitors’ bargaining committee who works for ABM cleaning Williams Tower in the Galleria District. “It will also give the janitorial industry a chance to build on the progress we’ve all made together in creating better jobs for Houston.”
The settlement provides a day-by-day contract extension whereby each side of the bargaining table can re-open negotiations at any time. The extended contract would then expire in 30 days time.
Today’s agreement will extend the historic union contract that janitors won after their four-week strike in 2006. Houston janitors are currently paid $7.75 an hour, have paid vacation and holidays, and have access to quality health care for $20 a month. They hope to reach a new agreement with the cleaning contractors that will strengthen Houston’s economy by bringing standards for Houston janitors closer to standards that workers employed by these same companies in other cities currently enjoy.
Yes, Pritchard continues to be the lone holdout and now, more than ever, we need to put on the pressure. The sooner they become involved in the negotiations, the sooner Houston janitors can negotiate a contract.
How You Can Help Get Pritchard to the Table:
Call Peter Sperduti, VP of Pritchard Industries, at (713) 957-1387 and tell him to bargain with janitors for a fair contract.
Call Pritchard’s owners. Tell them that janitors deserve a happy holiday season and ask them to tell Pritchard to commit to bargain with janitors for a fair contract.
- Colonial Properties Trust, Bo Jackson, EVP Office Portfolio— (205) 250-8700
- Behringer Harvard, Terry Kennon, Senior VP — (469) 341-2328
- Goddard Investment Group, Robert Goddard, President — (404) 442-5500
You can also send letters to Pritchard clients by clicking here http://seiuaction.org/campaign/HoustonJanitors. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will continue to keep you all updated on upcoming events to ensure that Pritchard bargain with janitors for a fair contract.
