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Archives: 2013

Rep. Gutierrez, Virginia Service Providers & Immigrants Discuss Impact of the Immigration Crisis on Women and Girls at Women’s Equality Day Event

Chantilly, Virginia – Congressman Luis Gutierrez (IL-4) joined immigrants and service providers from Northern Virginia in exploring the particularly harmful impact of the immigration crisis on women and girls at a panel discussion held today in Chantilly, VA. Congressman Frank Wolf (VA-10) declined an invitation for the event held in his district on Women’s Equality […]

University Of Miami Custodians Vote To Strike If Contract Talks Fail

Miami, FL—Workers say mounting frustration during several weeks of bargaining a contract renewal with DTZ Inc. led them to vote Saturday to authorize a strike in case they do not reach settlement on a fair contract. Clara Vargas, a cleaner at Residential Hall and a member of the workers’ bargaining committee, said, DTZ, the contractor […]

32BJ Calls Stop-And-Frisk Override A Victory For Civil Rights

NEW YORK — 32BJ SEIU, the largest property service union in the country, today congratulated City Council, especially Speaker Christine Quinn and sponsor Councilman Jumaane Williams, on the successful override of Mayor Bloomberg’s veto of the Community Safety Act. “This is a historic day, and a turning point in the relationship between the New York […]

32BJ Rescinds Endorsement Of Micah Kellner Over Sexual Harassment Allegations

NEW YORK – The Executive Board of 32BJ SEIU voted unanimously today to rescind the union’s endorsement of Assembly Member Micah Kellner for a City Council seat. It was the first time the union, which has 75,000 members in New York City, has ever rescinded an endorsement. “Given the allegations against Kellner, we cannot in […]

Labor Unions Call for Dreamers’ Release and Return to Their U.S. Hometowns

NEW YORK CITY—National and local labor leaders have written a letter calling on President Obama and Immigration and Customs Enforcement director John Morton to release on humanitarian parole nine young immigrant activists who were detained attempting to return to their families in the U.S. The Dream 9, as they are known in reference to the […]

NEW HAVEN — Public school cleaners in New Haven tonight asked the Board of Aldermen to support them in their fight for fair wages. “Unlike custodians who work for the city, our employer has not provided us with any raises, healthcare, sick days or retirement benefits,” cleaner Arnold Hunter told the board. “We’re doing the same work for much less pay and no benefits. We are being treated like a second-class workforce.” Hunter has worked for GCA Services Group as a contracted custodian in New Haven Public Schools since custodial services were outsourced two years ago. Custodians who clean the schools are paid between 25 and 30 percent less than custodians who work for the city. “What’s worse, taxpayer money is being used to fund this unfair, two-tier system,” Hunter said. “The city is saving millions of dollars by privatizing our jobs, but many of my co-workers not only can’t afford to see a doctor when they’re sick, they can’t even afford to take the time off from work because they need the money.” The cleaners asked the Board of Alderman to pass a resolution urging the school district to raise the floor on cleaners wages. Earlier in the day, the cleaners delivered a petition to Mayor John DeStephano Jr., asking for his support. Hunter himself works two jobs to help put his daughter through college, he said, but many of his co-workers are supporting themselves and their families on the low wages they receive as part-time, contracted custodians. “We’re not asking for anything that’s out of the reach of the public schools budget,” Hunter said. “We’re just asking to be brought to the same level of wages and benefits as the cleaners in City Hall.