Cleaning workers demand justice
By Anne
Pruden
New York
"I have three boys and pay $800 for rent, plus utilities.
I earn only eight dollars and change an hour with no benefits
and I have to clean five subway cars daily," said Selvis
Roman. This Ecuadoran woman joined 400 co-workers June 15 at
a Rally for Workers' Rights in lower Manhattan called by
Service Employees Local 32BJ.
One of a series of nationwide actions known as Justice for
Janitors, the rally drew attention to the plight of all
low-wage and immigrant workers. Roman works for TUCS cleaning
service, contracted by the wealthy Port Authority of New York
and New Jersey, which has just raised fares on its Hudson
River trains. TUCS workers, with Local 32BJ's assistance,
have battled discrimination and lack of benefits in the
courts for over five years.
Joined by members of the Hotel and Restaurant union,
Electrical Workers, UNITE, Health and Hospital workers of
Local 1199 and immigrant rights groups, the multinational
rally marched in the street from Federal Plaza to the World
Trade Center. Local 32BJ is popular with many workers at the
enormous office tower complex.
New York Central Labor Council President Brian McLaughlin
told the crowd how Columbia University's high-priced lawyers
are blocking union recognition for 1,100 low-paid graduate
students. He also scored the owners of Jefferson Market, who
sell caviar for $30 an ounce while denying minimum wages to
their immigrant workers.
Many immigrant workers complained of being threatened and
attacked when standing for their rights.
A Local 32BJ representative called for the City Council to
pass a living wage law.
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
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