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Houston Janitors Strike Ends With Gradual Dollar an Hour Raise Over 4 Years

Posted byHoumanitarian

(Mayra Cruz, Houston Chronicle)
After weeks of striking and demonstrating, Houston janitors unanimously voted Saturday to ratify a contract that would increase some members’ wages by $1 over a four-year period.

About 400 janitors with the Service Employees International Union supported a contract negotiated with six of the seven companies that employ the union janitorsThe contract will gradually increase workers’ pay from $8.35 an hour to $9.35 an hour. The previous contract ended on May 31.

SEUI spokeswoman Paloma Martinez said the contract was a fair solution for both the union and the cleaning companies “This is a huge victory,” she said.

Sixta Gonzalez, 67, said she voted for the contract because workers deserved to keep their benefits. “Every time we go into a nice place, the floors shine, but no one ever asks who waxes them,” she said.

Maria Lopez, 41,said she voted in favor of the contract to help raise minimum salaries across the city. “The salaries here in Houston are miserable,” she said.

While the ratified contact gives most of the workers a raise, some janitors may not benefit and could even earn less. Janitors who work in buildings of less than 200,000 square feet can expect to earn $7.25 an hour.
(Read the rest of the story at the Houston Chronicle)

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