FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Lynda Tran, 202-907-1172

MEDIA ADVISORY for Monday, October 16

With strike imminent, negotiations today over pay, health care, and hours for 5,300 Houston janitors…

Union Janitors from Across U.S. to Make Major Donation to Houston Strike Fund

Religious and elected leaders, janitors will hold prayer service prior to Monday bargaining session—outcome of talks could decide if janitors will walk off the job

Houston – Local clergy and elected leaders and janitors from other cities are showing their support for Houston’s janitors today as the janitors and their employers negotiate today for the first time since the janitors voted to authorize a strike.

Prior to the janitors’ bargaining session today at the DoubleTree Hotel downtown, clergy and elected leaders will hold a prayer service with the janitors’ negotiating committee outside the hotel. After the talks have concluded, a top-ranking official from the janitors’ union will hold a news conference with janitors to report on contract talks and present a major donation to the janitors’ growing strike fund on behalf of union janitors in New York, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and other cities.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR TODAY –
Monday, October 16

1:30PM Prayer Service
Outside the DoubleTree Hotel, 400 Dallas Street, Houston
TX Rep. Dora Olivo, City Comptroller Anise Parker, ecumenical group of faith leaders, janitors

2:30PM Contract Negotations Between Janitors and their employers
DoubleTree Hotel, 400 Dallas Street, Houston
Negotiations closed to members of the media

4:30PM Announcement of major donation to strike fund and report on contract talks
Outside the DoubleTree Hotel, 400 Dallas Street, Houston
Eliseo Medina, SEIU International Vice-President, janitors
VISUAL: Giant check presented to Houston janitors

More than 5,300 janitors who clean the majority of Houston’s office space are in the final stages of contract talks where they are seeking a raise to $8.50/hour, more hours, and health insurance.  Houston’s largest commercial landlords, such as Hines, Transwestern and PM Realty, have refused so far to support better conditions for janitors in Houston, despite their support for higher wages and benefits in other major cities where workers have formed a union with SEIU (Service Employees International Union).

Houston janitors have the lowest wages and benefits of any major city in the United States—earning an average of $5.30 an hour with no health or other benefits for almost exclusively part-time work.