Published: June 25, 2010

School Cleaners from Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ rallied June 16 against a $9-million cut that could lay off 240 workers and affect the cleanliness of schools.

Local 32BJ Secretary-Treasurer Hector Figueroa said that the H1N1 flu crisis of 2009 had proven how essential the School Cleaners were to the Department of Education, and that cutting them would be catastrophic.

1,000 Already Hurt by Cuts

“Over the last 10 years, 1,000 School Cleaners have lost their jobs, or lost hours, or lost their health insurance,” he said. “Too often, elected officials prefer to cut services and let the invisible men and women who keep children safe be out on the streets.”

He continued, “Last year, our whole city was in panic because of the H1N1 virus, and they asked us to be on the front line. . . the memories at City Hall are clearly very short.”

Local 32BJ members helped disinfect schools contaminated with swine flu, some of which were closed entirely during the crisis. “How dare they forget about the threats that we had to face?” Mr. Figueroa asked at the rally, held outside 250 Broadway, which houses many of the offices of the City Council.

The union’s school division is also demanding a new contract with the city that grants members rights that the DOE’s Custodians have enjoyed for years, including the right to take extended leave without having to re-enter the system at reduced wages, and direct deposit of their paychecks.

City Withholds 50¢ Hourly Hike

School Cleaners were also due a 50- cent increase in their hourly pay rate this year, but the city has withheld the raise because of state cuts to school aid.

“School Cleaners are no less than any other worker in the municipal government,” Mr. Figueroa said. “We need a contract now. . . tell our elected officials that we are working without a contract.”

Several Council Members appeared at the rally, including Daniel Dromm of Queens, who said, “As a former Teacher, I know firsthand that without a clean and safe environment in our schools we cannot offer quality education. These unfair budget cuts put our children’s health at risk and their future in jeopardy.”