Janitors disrupt bankers’ meeting, escalate contract campaign (story & video)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_4363

Janitors disrupt bankers’ meeting, escalate contract campaign
By Barb Kucera, Workday editor 16 February 2010

MINNEAPOLIS - In their quest for a fair contract, Twin Cities janitors filled Minneapolis skyways Monday and disrupted a meeting of banking lobbyists in St. Paul Tuesday. With video.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcu2JyIQZMQ&feature=player_embedded

The actions put pressure on building owners and cleaning contractors and called attention to the fact that janitors and other workers are struggling in the current economy.

Full-time janitors make as little as $20,200 a year, before taxes, and many face thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket medical costs due to poor coverage or do not go to the doctor out of fear of incurring big bills, they said.


Janitors and supporters disrupted the "Lobby Day" meeting of the Minnesota Bankers Association Tuesday in St. Paul.

“No more bailouts, no more greed! How much money do you need?” janitors and other protesters chanted as they walked into the Minnesota Banking Association’s annual lobby day Tuesday at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown St. Paul. The demonstrators were quickly pushed out by hotel security as TV cameras rolled.

“We are here to make ourselves heard and stand up for what all working families in Minnesota should have: eight-hour full-time jobs with good health insurance,” said Everett Spicer, a janitor at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. “Big banks like US Bancorp and Wells Fargo have a responsibility to rebuild the economy they wrecked by supporting good jobs in our community.”

US Bancorp and Wells Fargo are among the businesses cleaned by the 4,200 janitors represented by Service Employees International Union Local 26 who have been working without a contract since Jan. 8. Members have authorized their union to call a strike against ABM, Harvard, Marsden and other cleaning contractors if necessary.

The union said negotiations were scheduled Tuesday.



FULL story at link.

[midnight]

1. How does our country allow people who make 19,000 to owe 18,000 on

medical bills?

[dhill926]

2. Good for them........

would love to see more of this.....