Twin Cities janitors, security officers ratify new contracts ( major victory for working families)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_5458

3 March 2013

MINNEAPOLIS - After two months without a contract, hundreds of hours of negotiations and a one-day strike, janitors and security officers represented by Service Employees International Union Local 26 voted Saturday to approve new contracts.

“This is a major victory for working families,” said Margarita Del Angel Lopez, a janitor who works at the IDS Center in Minneapolis. “We work hard to support our families, we fought hard against cuts that would have destroyed thousands of jobs. This shows that when we stand together, we can move forward together. These are the best contracts in the history of the local service sector industry.”

“Suburban security officers have been working for years without a raise,” said Fred Anthony II, a security officer from St Paul. “Some of them haven’t had a raise in up to eight or 10 years. This is the first time they have guaranteed contracts, guaranteed health care, guaranteed job security. It helps bring them out of poverty.”

More than 6,000 janitors and security officers won $1.20 raises over three years, which will pump $48 million into local communities. They also protected stable, full-time positions for thousands of workers. In addition, janitors and security officers secured better employer-based healthcare coverage, which will enable workers to access affordable coverage, rather than be forced to rely on public programs paid for by taxpayers.

FULL story at link.