Workers.org

Support
anti-war,
anti-racist
news

:: Donate now ::

Email this articleEmail this article 

Print this pagePrintable page

Email the editor

 

LOS ANGELES

Janitors win landmark victory

By Preston Wood

Los Angeles

In a landmark victory, Los Angeles janitors overwhelmingly approved a new contract on April 24--ending a three-week strike that captured the imagination and support of the people of Los Angeles and labor activists everywhere.

After voting to approve the contract, thousands of janitors celebrated by cheering and dancing in the streets of downtown Los Angeles.

While it falls short of the $1 per year over three years the union had demanded, the contract raises wages by more than 25 percent over the next three years. That is more than any janitorial settlement in the past 20 years in Los Angeles County.

All janitors will receive an immediate $500 bonus. Janitors in outlying areas of the county will get a 30-cent raise the first year. Workers in the downtown and Century City areas will get a 70-cent boost. All janitors will receive a 60-cent increase each year over the following two years of the contract.

The strike signals a new militancy in the labor movement. Women and oppressed workers are able to push management back by employing militant street tactics and building strong support among other unions and community organizations.

Scores of unions supported the strikers by honoring picket lines, staffing food banks and raising money. Such solidarity and militancy is sure to have a powerful effect on negotiations over the more than 20 contracts that will expire this summer in Los Angeles.

"This is the beginning of a new era for organized labor," said Mike Garcia, president of Service Employees Local 1877, which represents the 8,500 janitors. "This fight isn't just about us. That's why we got such tremendous community and political support. We were at the right place at the right time."

Stephen Lerner, who coordinates the building-services division for the Service Employees union, said: "Part of the reason the whole labor movement rallied around this strike is that it was a taste of what labor can and will look like as it rejuvenates itself.

"Many of our battles over the last 10 years have been defensive battles. This was 100 percent offensive."

This article is copyright under a Creative Commons License.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: ww@workers.org
Subscribe wwnews-subscribe@workersworld.net
Support independent news http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php)

HOME :: U.S. NEWS :: WORLD NEWS :: EDITORIALS :: SUBSCRIBE :: DONATE