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Vol. 74/No. 6      February 15, 2010

 
Janitors fight for new
contract in Minnesota
 
BY TOM FISKE  
MINNEAPOLIS—Janitors here, members of Service Employees International Union Local 26, voted overwhelmingly January 31 to authorize a strike against the companies who employ them to clean commercial office buildings in the Twin Cities area.

The decision enables the union to call a strike at any time, although union officials say they are hoping the employers will change their positions in upcoming negotiations. The contract, which expired January 8, affects 4,000 workers.

A union press release states that health insurance for the workers is “inadequate.” Union leaders also point out that some workers have lost 25 percent of their income because of the bosses’ cutting hours since the last contract was adopted three years ago.

“I’ve had my nightly hours cut back in the last year,” said Maribel Quiroz. “No one can afford to lose so much of their income.”

Five hundred janitors attended the union meeting where they voted to authorize a strike.  
 
 
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