STATE REP. VERRENGIA JOINS BUILDING CLEANERS AT RALLY PROTESTING LABOR VIOLATIONS BY GOODRICH CORP. CONTRACTOR
– National Labor Board Investigating After Eight Cleaners Lost Jobs –
West Hartford, CT – June 16, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Building cleaners who have been picketing against a Goodrich Corp. cleaning contractor stepped up their protest Wednesday with a rally that drew more than 100 workers and area residents. The protest was aimed at cleaning contractor Jani-King of Hartford, which took over cleaning at the plant in May and refused to hire any the previous contractor’s eight custodians, many of whom had worked at the facility for years. Federal labor officials are investigating charges that Jani-King refused to hire the workers because they were union members, which would violate federal law. Wednesday’s rally marked the 21st “Justice for Janitors” Day, the anniversary of the start of a national movement for building cleaners to earn decent pay and benefits that allow them to live with dignity.
“These cleaners worked hard to keep the Goodrich facility clean and sanitary,” said Kurt Westby, Connecticut State Director for 32BJ SEIU. “They joined a union in an effort to achieve better pay and adequate benefits. Now, because of Jani-King, they are out of work. When companies callously violate workers’ rights and disregard the law, our communities and our nation lose ground.”
Goodrich until last month contracted with Suburban Janitorial, which paid its cleaners $12.25 an hour. At that wage, the workers were already struggling to stay out of poverty – and now they have they lost their jobs.
“Connecticut needs more jobs with family-supporting wages, not more workers in unemployment lines,” State Representative Joe Verrengia (D-West Hartford) said. “We need responsible cleaning contractors that offer decent pay and adequate benefits.”
Wednesday’s rally ran from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in front of the Goodrich plant at 1 Charter Oak Boulevard in West Hartford. It featured a demonstration that included a giant rat representing Jani-King.
With 120,000 members on the East Coast—including 4,500 in Connecticut—32BJ SEIU is the largest property services union in the country.
Contact:
Maia Davis: 212-388-3696
201-396-4444
Matt Nerzig: 212-539-2882
