Hundreds of janitors took to the streets of Palo Alto with signs and bullhorns early Thursday afternoon, April 5, as part of a regional effort to negotiate a new contract.
The workers, who are represented by the Service Employees International Union United Service Workers West, walked north on El Camino Real en route to Lytton Plaza on University Avenue, where they were planning to continue the protest, said Cecille Isidro, the group's spokesperson. Carrying signs with slogans such as "CEOs sitting on cash" and "Justice for Janitors," the procession of workers occupied the right lane of El Camino as participants marched north and chanted, "We are the 99 percent."
Isidro said the union is holding similar rallies in other cities, including in Sacramento and in the East Bay. The contract for 30,000 of the union's 40,000 members is set to expire at the end of April, she said, and the union is considering holding a strike starting May 1 if an agreement isn't reached.
A statement from the union said the union's bargaining committee has agreed to authorize a strike "if contractors' final offer failed to live up to good business principles, including dignified wages, affordable health care, and respect for immigrant communities."
Isidro said Palo Alto was chosen as the site of the union's Silicon Valley march because of the large number of companies that employ janitors from the union. Participants in the Thursday march included janitors who work in the city as well as their counterparts from throughout the Bay Area, she said. She estimated the number of participants at about 700.
"There are many buildings in Palo Alto that janitors clean," Isidro said. "Many people here also clean buildings in Mountain View and San Jose."
Comments
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 5, 2012 at 1:05 pm
on Apr 5, 2012 at 1:05 pm
[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Apr 5, 2012 at 1:31 pm
on Apr 5, 2012 at 1:31 pm
In the coming years, we will see more robots used to do this sort of work. We won't have to put up with all of these unions targeting Palo Alto's streets and businesses for harassment once these machines are used instead of these people.
> Authorize a strike ..
Good .. bring it on!
> blocking traffic
Wonder if these folks have a permit to protest--and shut down the public's streets? [Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
Registered user
Mountain View
on Apr 5, 2012 at 1:43 pm
Registered user
on Apr 5, 2012 at 1:43 pm
Robots: If businesses want them, there are now second and third generation robots that are a far cry from the original ROOMBA and SCOOBA.
There are more competitors to iRobot; I have worked on projects for them.
The only time a robot goes on strike is when you forget to charge the on-board batteries or quit doing maintenance...
[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]