Dover, DE – Sen. Harris McDowell, D-Wilmington North and dozens of office cleaners from across the state were joined today at the State Capitol by State Representatives Dennis Williams, Gerald Brady and John Kowlako, to demand that the Delaware Transit Corporation, popularly known as DART First State, hire responsible contractors with a clean record and high standards.
Elite Building Services, DART’s current cleaning contractor in New Castle County, has over $400,000 in outstanding federal tax liens and has been accused by current and former employees of turning a deaf ear to workers with complaints about working conditions.
“DART shouldn’t be subcontracting tax delinquents,” said state senator Harris McDowell. “Taxpayers in Delaware deserve good services provided by responsible contractors who pay their taxes just like the rest of us.”
“In these tough economic times, Delaware has been looking to federal tax dollars to keep vital state programs running,” said Wayne Macmaniman, 32BJ SEIU Mid-Atlantic Area Director. “Government shouldn’t reward contractors showing little interest in our communities and in creating good jobs.”
Elite is not a signatory to the historic area-wide union contract entered into last December that gave wage increases, health care coverage, paid vacation and other benefits to more than 800 office cleaners in Wilmington and New Castle County.
The new contract provided office cleaners an average hourly wages raise of as much as $2over the life of the contract with annual increases of 70 cent an hour. For the first time, all full-time workers receive employer paid health care.
“This is the beginning of a better life,” said Willie Grant, an Arthur Jackson office cleaner when he heard of the new contract. “I suffer from a heart condition, thank God we’re finally going to have healthcare.”
With more than 120,000 members in seven states, including Delaware, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service workers union in the country.
updated 6/22/2010
