Their militancy has changed politics here, from television news to workplace discussions. The workers are members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1877.

The strike here has expanded with picket lines now set up in Long Beach, San Fernando Valley, Ventura, El Segundo, Pasadena, and Santa Monica.

Buses from around the county brought more than 1,000 strikers to downtown Pershing Square for a candlelight vigil on the evening of April 12. Dora Posada, a striker and janitor for 10 years, told the crowd, "The small raise we are asking for may not seem like a lot, but for all of our families, it will make a big difference in our lives."

A rally and march April 13 of 700 strikers and their supporters at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) followed a walkout by SEIU members working there. LAX has been the site of an effort by the union, unsuccessful to date, to organize Argenbright's 800 contract workers who handle bags, staff x-ray screening machines, and push wheelchairs for the major airlines at all the terminals.

Infrequent negotiations between the SEIU and representatives of the 18 struck cleaning contractors in the city have yielded little. Buildings hit by the strike are being cleaned by supervisors and scabs. Strikers are increasingly discussing the need to stop the scabs from crossing the picket lines.

SEIU president Mike Garcia reported that janitors have made concessions in the negotiations but that management "moved only three nickels over three years." The union is seeking $1 an hour wage increase each year for three years. Janitors currently earn $6.80 to $7.90 per hour with full family health benefits.

The union has continued to receive broad labor support, including two anonymous contributions of $500,000 each. Statements have been sent from unions in Pakistan, Trinidad, and Switzerland. Students are backing the strike as well. Santa Monica College MEChA activist Ricardo Rocha said his organization is supporting the strike because "all of us have parents in the farm industry and the service sector. My mom is an immigrant and she's a housekeeper. This strike helps all of us."

As popular support for this strike spreads, other trade unionists and youth have joined the frequent marches and rallies of a thousand or more. Union officials from the Longshoremen's union, the United Farm Workers, and SEIU locals in other cities are attending strategy sessions.

Letters to the editor in the Los Angeles Times and La Opinion overwhelmingly support the strike, although some have called for deporting the overwhelmingly immigrant workforce. Democratic and Republican party politicians, including Republican mayor Richard Riordan, have supported the janitors in general terms but usually not their specific demands. Some have gotten arrested as part of civil disobedience actions.

In another development, at press time the building workers in New York announced that they have reached a tentative contract settlement.

Mark Friedman is a member of the International Association of Machinists  
 
 
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