Breaking News: Janitor Strike Ends

No more random traffic jams in the Galleria or Downtown!

You saw it first here on the KTRK political blog! SEIU and the cleaning companies reach preliminary agreement.  Sources say Mayor White made many phone calls over the past several weeks behind the scenes.  Below is an internal email from SEIU folks detailing the terms of the contract.

From SEIU, Texas

Hello everyone,

What a difference a day makes!  We have reached a tentative agreement for a 3 year contract for janitors.

Wages:  $1.15 increase the first year, $1.00 the second year, and $.50 the third year. 

Health Care:  The third year is when single payer health insurance will kick in and janitors will pay $20 per month into that plan.  It is a plan designed and managed by SEIU and we are hoping to get all of our members nationwide on this plan.

Vacation:  Two weeks paid vacation per year

Holidays:  6 paid Holidays

Hours:  1st year everyone must work a minimum of 4 hours a day, 2nd year everyone must work a minimum of 5 hours per day, 3rd year everyone must work a minimum of 6 hours per day.

Protection:  We have a grievance procedure in place.  We have protection for all of the striking workers to get their jobs back with no discipline, We have a disciplinary procedure in place so that no one can be illegally fired for no reason any more.

Watch Ch. 13 at 4, 5, 6 for the details! :-)

Comments

[Kitt]

Well good. Economic justice was served.

Let me tell ya, this story was front & center at our parish social justice community meeting on Saturday. We had info regarding the websites, etc., available for people. You cannot have a company such as Chevron, where the CEO earns 400 times as much as the janitors and the janitors aren't even paid a living wage complete with benefits or benefit options. It also went to every theological esite, e-list I'm part of, as well as every political one, not to mention the political & theological blogs I read. The question was being asked, where is the democratic mayor in all this. Well, now we now.

Our daughter, who was born in San Antonio, and we were planning a motor trip in mid-March to drive thruout Texas showing her 'all the stuff.' We live in the Pacific NW. Happily we can do this now.

[Pat Newcomb]

I am interested in contacting anyone who is interested in fostering the history of the original May Day in the United States and it's influence on creating the eight hour day.Please respond to my e-mail address at:

thecaptain2540@aol.com

[Daniel]

2 weeks holiday. In Australia the minimum is 4 weeks. I get six weeks. Why do Americans put up with such inferior holiday leave? How do you ever have a proper rest with only 2 weeks leave?

[Mathew]

Congratulations to the workers and community who cared enough to make life better for janators! You are an inspiration to so many ill-treated workers around the world. The SEIU leadership and its members have shown what a positive campaign can achieve. Well done!

[mistersmith]

I'm fine with the pay agreement and the vacation and the insurance. Just make sure the company that employs illegals is fined and that fine keeps elevating with each illegal that is discovered on it's payroll. Criminals should not be rewarded.