Janitors Rally Across 17 Cities, Fight for a Living Wage
Support for a large group of striking janitors in Houston spread across the country on Wednesday as hundreds of janitors and human rights activists in 17 cities protested in front of office buildings. The nationwide protest comes after seven people, including 5 janitors, were arrested at a protest on Tuesday in Houston as part of ongoing acts of peaceful civil disobedience by the workers.
Houston janitors are now on their fourth week on strike over unfair labor practices.
"Janitors are standing up to some of the biggest and wealthiest corporations in the world for a chance at a better life for their families. When janitors in Houston began to campaign for a better life, they were met with intimidation from their employers," stated Service Employees International Union.
"We're striking because we have no other option," says Houston janitor Lidia Aguillon. "We can't make ends meet on what we are paid, and when we stand up for ourselves, we're punished and harassed."
Houston office cleaners are some of the lowest paid in the nation, with an average yearly salary of $9,000. The janitors in Houston on average earn a top wage of $8.35 an hour. The strikers are seeking a raise to $10 an hour. About 475 janitors are on strike at about 50 buildings; however, bargaining will continue between the janitors and the Houston Area Contractors Association on Thursday.
About 150 Houston janitors were in downtown Houston Wednesday morning. Some created a street sit-in to blockade a major intersection, which lead to several arrests. Organizers of the protests are expecting there will be dozens of arrests by the end of the day. Some 500 protesters are expected to rally in the Galleria area of the city during rush hour.
Similar solidarity actions are taking place in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New York City, Portland, San Diego, San Ramon, Seattle, St. Louis, Toronto, and Washington, D.C.
"It's all coming to a boiling point," Martinez said. "Janitors want to make a big statement. We are going to do whatever it takes. It's not about janitors anymore, it's about being the city we want to be," said union spokeswoman Paloma Martinez.
"They are invisible when they are cleaning after hours at 6 p.m.," she said. "We are invisible no more out in the streets, you can't ignore us."
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Support for a large group of striking janitors in Houston spread across the country on Wednesday as hundreds of janitors and human rights activists in 17 cities protested in front of office buildings. The nationwide protest comes after seven people, including 5 janitors, were arrested at a protest on Tuesday in Houston as part of ongoing acts of peaceful civil disobedience by the workers.
Houston janitors are now on their fourth week on strike over unfair labor practices.
"Janitors are standing up to some of the biggest and wealthiest corporations in the world for a chance at a better life for their families. When janitors in Houston began to campaign for a better life, they were met with intimidation from their employers," stated Service Employees International Union.
"We're striking because we have no other option," says Houston janitor Lidia Aguillon. "We can't make ends meet on what we are paid, and when we stand up for ourselves, we're punished and harassed."
Houston office cleaners are some of the lowest paid in the nation, with an average yearly salary of $9,000. The janitors in Houston on average earn a top wage of $8.35 an hour. The strikers are seeking a raise to $10 an hour. About 475 janitors are on strike at about 50 buildings; however, bargaining will continue between the janitors and the Houston Area Contractors Association on Thursday.
About 150 Houston janitors were in downtown Houston Wednesday morning. Some created a street sit-in to blockade a major intersection, which lead to several arrests. Organizers of the protests are expecting there will be dozens of arrests by the end of the day. Some 500 protesters are expected to rally in the Galleria area of the city during rush hour.
Similar solidarity actions are taking place in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New York City, Portland, San Diego, San Ramon, Seattle, St. Louis, Toronto, and Washington, D.C.
"It's all coming to a boiling point," Martinez said. "Janitors want to make a big statement. We are going to do whatever it takes. It's not about janitors anymore, it's about being the city we want to be," said union spokeswoman Paloma Martinez.
"They are invisible when they are cleaning after hours at 6 p.m.," she said. "We are invisible no more out in the streets, you can't ignore us."
Support for a large group of striking janitors in Houston spread across the country on Wednesday as hundreds of janitors and human rights activists in 17 cities protested in front of office buildings. The nationwide protest comes after seven people, including 5 janitors, were arrested at a protest on Tuesday in Houston as part of ongoing acts of peaceful civil disobedience by the workers.
Houston janitors are now on their fourth week on strike over unfair labor practices.
"Janitors are standing up to some of the biggest and wealthiest corporations in the world for a chance at a better life for their families. When janitors in Houston began to campaign for a better life, they were met with intimidation from their employers," stated Service Employees International Union.
"We're striking because we have no other option," says Houston janitor Lidia Aguillon. "We can't make ends meet on what we are paid, and when we stand up for ourselves, we're punished and harassed."
Houston office cleaners are some of the lowest paid in the nation, with an average yearly salary of $9,000. The janitors in Houston on average earn a top wage of $8.35 an hour. The strikers are seeking a raise to $10 an hour. About 475 janitors are on strike at about 50 buildings; however, bargaining will continue between the janitors and the Houston Area Contractors Association on Thursday.
About 150 Houston janitors were in downtown Houston Wednesday morning. Some created a street sit-in to blockade a major intersection, which lead to several arrests. Organizers of the protests are expecting there will be dozens of arrests by the end of the day. Some 500 protesters are expected to rally in the Galleria area of the city during rush hour.
Similar solidarity actions are taking place in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New York City, Portland, San Diego, San Ramon, Seattle, St. Louis, Toronto, and Washington, D.C.
"It's all coming to a boiling point," Martinez said. "Janitors want to make a big statement. We are going to do whatever it takes. It's not about janitors anymore, it's about being the city we want to be," said union spokeswoman Paloma Martinez.
"They are invisible when they are cleaning after hours at 6 p.m.," she said. "We are invisible no more out in the streets, you can't ignore us."