From: Jobs with Justice (feedback@jwj.org)
Date: Mon Sep 23 2002 - 08:56:47 EDT
"They still seem to cling to the idea that they want
to see more full-time jobs with more people having
health insurance." -James Canavan, Chief negotiatior
for Maintenance Contractors of New England and VP for
Labor Relations for UNICCO, the largest cleaning contractor
in Boston
ARE FULL-TIME JOBS AND HEALTH INSURANCE TOO MUCH TO
ASK?
Take action now to demand that UNICCO treat their janitors
fairly!
Send a Fax at http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/t711zRY1S71M/
and/or Call UNICCO at 1-800-283-9222!
The more than 10,000 janitors who clean Boston-area
office buildings and are members of SEIU Local 615
are in a fight for their lives. The master contract
with Boston cleaning contractors has expired, negotiations
have broken off, and a strike date is set for September
30. Broad community support has been building over
the last several weeks, and is proving critical in
this fight.
These workers maintain more than 1,000 office buildings
in the Boston area. Most are women; almost all are
immigrants; and all are working hard to support their
families. Despite many profitable years for the real
estate industry, most Boston-area janitors are paid
$39 a day. Because their salaries are so low, janitors
are forced to work two or three jobs to meet basic
needs. More than 75% work part-time and they are not
eligible for employer-based health insurance from the
cleaning contractor who hire them.
UNICCO is the largest cleaning contractor in the Boston
area, and employs janitors in several other cities
where janitors' contracts will be expiring in the coming
months. UNICCO and has been the main obstacle in contract
negotiations in Boston. They also have a shameful history
of OSHA violations and sexual harassment suits.
Shame on UNICCO!
The Student Labor Action Project (a joint project of
Jobs with Justice and the U.S. Students Association)
and the United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) have
already written a joint letter to UNICCO demanding
that they negotiate fairly with their employees in
Boston or face escalating actions by students across
the Northeast and at campuses serviced by UNICCO nationwide.
A copy of the letter is available at ttp://www.jwj.org/workplace/recent/BostonJanitors/studentletter.htm
. USAS has called September 23 - 29 as a week of action
against UNICCO.
Take action now to demand that UNICCO treat their janitors
fairly!
Send a Fax and/or Call UNICCO at 1-800-283-9222!
Boston Globe Editorial: Doing Janitors Justice available
at http://www.jwj.org/workplace/recent/BostonJanitors/globe.htm
.
You can take action on this alert via the web at:
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/UNICCO/5nn872a8ix
Visit the web address below to tell your friends about
this.
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/UNICCO/forward/5nn872a8ix
We encourage you to take action by October 20, 2002
Justice for Janitors in Boston!
INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB:
If you have access to a web browser, you can take action
on this alert by going to the following URL:
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/UNICCO/5nn872a8ix
Your letter will be addressed and sent to:
UNNICO CEO Steven Kletjian
----THIS LETTER WILL BE SENT IN YOUR NAME----
Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],
I am very concerned about the plight of janitors who
work in Boston, particularly your employees. Janitors
who work in cities with comparable real estate prices
make much more than Boston's janitors. I was appalled
to hear that over 75% of Boston's janitors work part-time
and receive no health insurance. Shame on you for exploiting
women and immigrant workers!
Why is UNICCO's VP for Labor Relations, James Canavan,
blocking a fair contract for Boston janitors? Major
corporations such as John Hancock, Fleet Bank, State
Street Bank, and Equity Properties have already made
statements supporting the idea that hard working people
shouldn't have to live in poverty with no access to
basic health insurance. I urge you to quickly settle
on a fair contract with higher wages, health care,
and more full-time jobs for your employees.
----END OF LETTER TO BE SENT----
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
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