This Justice for Janitors Day,Support Good Jobs for Our Communities!

This Justice for Janitors Day,Support Good Jobs for Our Communities!

Today is International Justice for Janitors Day, when we celebrate and recognize the hard work and sacrifice that prop­erty service workers across the world make. Today also marks the 10 year anniversary when thousands of janitors in the Boston region went on strike, to lift standards in the jani­torial industry. That fight continues: in Houston, Texas hun­dreds of janitors have already gone on strike in the hopes that they can improve their working conditions and win a better way of life.

Here in Massachusetts, a better way of life is on the horizon. Our economy is looking brighter, and has been outperform-
ji ing most of the rest of country during the recovery. Boston is among the fastest-recovering metropolitan areas in the country. One of the pillars of industry driving the Massachusetts economy is commercial real estate. Vacancy rates are going down and rents are going up, with the Back Bay neighborhood being one of the strongest markets in the nation.

This summer the 14,000 contracted janitors that work in the key industries that drive our state's economy will be negotiating a new contract to continue improving standards that they have fought so hard to achieve. Like so many, their hope is to share in the continued growth and prosperity that those at the very top have enjoyed.

Unfortunately, here in Back Bay those at the top are not working to achieve this vision. Capital Prop­erties, the owner of 31 St. James Avenue, recently made the decision to hire an irresponsible contractor, Crystal Bright, to provide cleaning services there. The dedicated janitors who cleaned this building for years were not offered employment and have been displaced. The decision to hire this irresponsible contractor, who pays poverty wages, threatens the standards for janitors across the region.

Join us to demand a shared prosperity, and a New England that works
for everyone!

Visit our website at www.seiu615.org to learn
more about Justice for Janitors and a
New England that works for everyone

SEIU Local 615 * 26 West St. Boston, MA 02111 * 617-523-6150-*seiu615.org* facebook.com/seiu615 * @seiu615