Mirna Blanco

Four year-old Jennifer Blanco likes "Si Se Puede." That's what she calls the union her mother Mirna helped form in Houston last year, when thousands of the city's janitors united to improve the lives of their families.

"For me it's important to get involved because I have personally experienced the mistreatment we have to put up with," says Mirna. "Every person has the right to work with dignity. But right now workers don't have insurance or the money to go to a doctor--and I've seen the needs in the community."

Mirna has worked for the city's largest cleaning company, ABM, for five years. Like thousands of other Houston janitors, Mirna earns just over $5 an hour and does not have access to affordable health care. She has never received a pay raise.

"The money goes quickly and it is not enough to cover the basic necessities," she says. "It is difficult to support my family on such a small salary. Sometimes we have to pay bills late." When they couldn't afford to pay the bill, the family's telephone was disconnected. Recently, Mirna's 16-year-old daughter, Bessy, had to take a summer job at a clothing store in the mall. Instead of saving her money for the computer she wants, Bessy is working "to help us with the bills."

Living without health insurance is also an important issue for Mirna and her family. Mirna suffers from high cholesterol, gastritis, and high blood pressure, and her daughter Bessy has asthma. "I want affordable health care for my family because I want peace of mind." says Mirna. "What I make is not enough for anything."

Mirna's oldest daughter Alicia is glad her mom is fighting for her dignity. "Every person has the right to fight for what they need," she says. "My mom works very hard for very little money--sometimes she gets home with back pain and sore feet. The job they do is so hard and even my sister is making more than her at her summer job."

Young Jennifer also understands what her mother and other janitors are fighting for. As she says, "We are fighting because there isn't enough money to buy food or to go to the doctor."