[mgj-discuss] Fwd: DC Janitors Thank You

[Mark Rickling]

From: "Justice for Janitors DC" <info at seiu82.org>

Dear Comrade,

Thanks to your support, over 4,000 janitors who clean
downtown office buildings in Washington, DC can look
forward to a better future for themselves and their
families. This past Saturday, May 3rd, janitors overwhelmingly
ratified a new contract negotiated with the Washington
Service Contractors Association. The new contract achieved
all of the janitors' goals including:

* Extending health insurance to 750 part-time janitors
* Increasing weekly earnings by over 60-90 percent
over the life of the contract
* Increasing hours worked by part-time janitors
* Winning important benefits like paid sick leave for
part-time janitors

These important gains by janitors in Washington, DC
shows working families can move forward with community
support. Community support was crucial in helping the
janitors win better lives for their families. Supporters
sent over 1,000 faxes to the cleaning contractors to
urge them to do right by the janitors. More than 70
religious leaders endorsed the stand janitors took
for health insurance for the unisured. Elected leaders
like Representative Van Hollen, Rep. Eleanor Holmes
Norton and Councilmembers Phil Mendelsohn, Adrian Fenty,
Linda Cropp, and Jim Graham also worked to help janitors
win.
As Washington, DC janitor and bargaining team member
Oscar Zapata said after the contract was ratified,
"This contract will open the door economically for
janitors in DC. It will help us provide our families
with a better future."

Thanks again for your support. We've shown that with
your help working families CAN win!




If you received this message from a friend, you can
sign up for SEIU Local 82 Action Center at:

http://www.unionvoice.org/seiu82/join.html?r=jdanzXY1N1qRE


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