Arlington, VA – 32BJ filed an unfair labor practice charge (ULP) with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on July 1, accusing non-union cleaning contractor, Christos Building Services, Inc. of unlawfully refusing to hire 21 cleaners at the River House Apartments in Arlington, VA due to their union affiliation and of avoiding bargaining obligations with 32BJ. 

Building Service Management Incorporated (BSMI), a 32BJ signatory cleaning contractor, lost the cleaning contract to Christos.  The cleaners, some of which were employed for as long as two decades, are now all jobless, a consequence of the cleaning contractor changing hands today. 

“It is unconscionable for Christos to deny men and women jobs that are rightfully theirs,” said Jaime Contreras, 32BJ Capitol Area Director.  “These cleaners have worked hard at a thankless job for nearly twenty years, their families will suffer without their income.” 

32BJ members and supporters walked a picket line with the cleaners today at the apartment complex to protest Christos’ refusal to hire the cleaners.  Last week, the cleaners delivered a petition asking to be hired by the new company. 

“I won’t be able to pay my bills if I can’t find another job that pays union wages,” said Lilian Gomez, a mother of three from Alexandria, VA who has worked at River House for 10 years.  “Taking care of my children was hard enough before, but now I don’t know how I’ll manage.”  Christos is allegedly planning to replace the 21 BSMI employees with non-union cleaners.

32BJ SEIU is working to improve the quality of life for families along the East Coast and across the nation through organizing and legislative campaigns to raise wages and benefits.  The union seeks to work with lawmakers and others to end poverty and raise standards in the service sector.