LA Janitors, Building Owners Urged To Settle Disagreement

May 8, 2008

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles city mayor Antonio Villaigosa has recently called on city janitors and key building owners for a meeting to resolve the employment conflict between the two parties.

The closed-door meeting was arranged after contract talks between the two parties had broken off and the janitors had authorized a strike. The move was aimed at encouraging the two sides to return to negotiations and settle on an agreement beneficial to both parties.

Earlier, in a near-unanimous vote, janitors had authorized a strike, and held a rally downtown, including one-night walkouts at about 40 buildings across Los Angeles County.

Mike Garcia, president of Service Employees International Union Local 1877, said the union is seeking unspecified wage increases, but the main issue is to narrow the gap between janitors with the highest and lowest pay.

Dick Davis, chief negotiator for the contractors, said the cleaning companies offered annual raises of 50 cents an hour for three years and 55 cents for the fourth year under a proposed contract, but they were rebuffed. He said the total package, including benefits, amounted to a $3.55-an-hour increase.

Local 1877's members include 6,000 janitors in Los Angeles County. Their contract, last renegotiated in 2003, expired April 30. About 450 of the union's Los Angeles County janitors, or less than 10%, did not show up for the Wednesday-night work shift.

If the union's demands are not met, widespread work stoppages could begin next week, Garcia stressed.

In Orange County, where 2,000 janitors are represented by the union, members voted Saturday to authorize a strike. Walkouts have not occurred there yet.

Similar incidents have occurred in the past, which led to widespread work stoppage in 2002.