Public housing workers rally for ‘Equal pay for equal work’

Chants alternated between the general: “No justice, no peace!” and the specific: “No money, no work!” The only thing louder was the cacophony of automobile horns honking in support of the maintenance workers at the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) in Cleveland.

Nov. 11 demonstration. WW photo: Martha Grevatt

Their union, AFSCME Local 1355, held a rally Nov. 11 at the site of the future CMHA headquarters. After rejecting the wage increase recommended by a fact-finder, these underpaid workers have voted to authorize a strike.

Last-minute negotiations may or may not avert a strike, but Local 1355 members have already begun educating the public as to the righteous nature of their cause. Despite the skilled and multifaceted nature of their work—maintaining and repairing thousands of units in the oldest public housing system in the country—CMHA workers make close to one-third less than public housing employees in the rest of Northeast Ohio. CMHA refuses to pay them even the prevailing wage recommended by Housing and Urban Development.

The overwhelming majority of these workers are African American. At the rally, both Black and white workers carried signs which charged “Racism does exist in government wages.” Other signs demanded “Equal pay for equal work” and “Justice now.”

Joining Local 1355 in this and previous protests has been the militant community organization Black on Black. Representing Black on Black, longtime activist Art McKoy stated to the workers, “You have already won. By coming out here in this cold, damp, rainy weather and showing your fortitude, you are stronger than CMHA management.” McKoy was arrested and held overnight at a previous demonstration outside the home of Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson.

Local 1355 President Dave Patterson added that it was in the interest of the CMHA residents that workers be paid a living wage.

Community support is already visible. On busy Kinsman Avenue in Cleveland’s Black community, the overwhelming majority honked, waved, cheered, and even got dogs to bark in solidarity. Members of the Peoples Fightback Center came with signs demanding “Money for housing, not for war!”