For Immediate Release    
October 5, 2006

Contact:
Inga Skippings (202) 256-2532       
Marie Watteau (240) 461-7220

Building Owners Turn Away Houston's Janitors Who Ask: Could you live on $106 a week?

Janitors try to deliver "paycheck" for $106, which Building Owners and Managers Assn VP once called a "fair wage"

HOUSTON -- Holding a giant $106 weekly "paycheck," low-wage janitors were escorted from the offices of the Houston Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) where they tried to ask building owners if they could live on a janitor's average pay.  Last year BOMA Executive Vice President Tammy Betancourt called janitors' wages -- averaging $5.30 per hour -- "fair." The janitors, who clean the majority of Houston's office space, work for cleaning contractors hired by building owners and property managers who are members of BOMA.

"Working people in Houston should be able to take their kids to the doctor and be paid a fair wage," said Mercedes Herrera, who cleans the offices where BOMA is headquartered.  "I' don't think any building owners would want to take care of their families on just $106 a week."

In addition to wages as low as $20 per day, janitors who clean Houston's offices are offered only part-time work and receive no health or other benefits.  Janitors who work in the offices of major national landlords like Houston-based Hines Interests in other major cities, such as Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Chicago are paid more than $10 an hour, work full-time and have health insurance.  Hines executive Rush Durkin is currently the president of BOMA's board of directors.

More than 5,000 Houston janitors have been engaged in negotiations to end the compensation disparity between Houston and other cities, but BOMA has resisted janitors' efforts all along and is opposing giving workers a raise to $8.50/hour, more hours, and health insurance -- the bare minimum janitors need to support their families. Janitors and community supporters will engage in weekly marches and rallies to call on Houston's landlords, including Hines Interests, to improve working conditions for all working families.

Two weeks ago, the janitors authorized their bargaining committee to call a strike, and could walk off the job at any time.