Celebrating Justice For Janitors Day
Wednesday, June 15, 2011(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Workers, members and supporters of SEIU Local 32BJ will rally in
McPherson Square today
at 4:30P to celebrate Justice for Janitors Day and to fight for a fair
contract for area janitors. The demo honors “the incredible organizing efforts
of those janitors and cleaners who decided to join together and take action to
demand respect and a better life,” say rally organizers. “Today we are
continuing the struggle.” For two decades, SEIU's Justice
for Janitors movement has helped low-wage workers who clean buildings
achieve social and economic justice and earn broad-based support from the public
as well as religious, political and community leaders, reports SEIU. With "One
Industry, One Union, One Contract" serving as both campaign slogan and
organizing strategy, the Justice for Janitors campaign has coordinated efforts
nationally and internationally to raise wages and increase basic benefits and
job security for janitors. Click
here to RSVP. - Photo: On June 15, 1990, striking
janitors and their supporters held a peaceful march and demonstration in LA's
Century City district. As the protest got underway, 400 striking janitors
fighting to win a union to build a better life for their families found
themselves squaring off against fifty baton wielding police officers - when the
workers linked arms to cross the street, they were beat back by dozens of police
officers, and thirty-eight of the wounded marchers were arrested; photo courtesy
SEIU