October 14, 2015
With the clock ticking down to the expiration of their contract, hundreds of commercial office cleaners are prepared to strike if an agreement is not reached.
The janitors, members of Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union, voted overwhelming Tuesday to authorize a strike if a pact is not reached by the midnight Friday deadline. More than 800 members voted for strike action, the union said.
"Our goal is to reach an amicable agreement," said Daisy Cruz, director of 32BJ's Mid-Atlantic District. "It would be a big mess for the city."
According to the union, contract talks between its bargaining committee and the Building Owners Labor Relations Inc. have been ongoing since Sept. 3. Despite what it claimed was a profitable commercial real estate industry, the union claims BOLR has called for cuts to workers' health benefits and pensions.
The union says the average Center City office cleaner makes around $16 an hour, substantially below the living wage of $23.39 an hour for an adult who supports one child in the city of Philadelphia, according to MIT.
"We're only trying to maintain our healthcare, pensions and basic needs," said Audra Traynham, an office cleaner in University City and member of the union bargaining committee. "Groceries and other expenses continue to go up while our pay remains the same. We're not asking for much, just to maintain our basic needs."
A strike by janitors would affect 168 office buildings across Center City, including the Comcast Center, Wells Fargo Plaza and Philadelphia City Hall.
