Denver-area janitors vote on whether to authorize a strike

Janitors who are members of the Service Employees International Union Local 105 voted Tuesday to authorize a strike across metro Denver if negotiations with 17 cleaning contractors don’t lead to acceptable terms.

The contract that expires July 28 covers about 2,400 people who work in approximately 1,500 buildings. Stephanie Felix-Sowy, president of SEIU Local 105, said union members’ main priorities include a livable wage and a solution to concerns about the workload.

“Workload meaning additional workload being placed on our members while hours are being cut oftentimes,” Felix-Sowy said.

Eva Martinez was among several union members casting ballots in a downtown plaza and rallying support from pedestrians and drivers. She has worked as a janitor for 30 years at the Republic Plaza in downtown Denver. Martinez said 24 janitors worked at the building before the COVID-19 pandemic and now just 12 work there.

Felix-Sowy translated for Martinez, who speaks Spanish. The union said about 90% of the janitors are Latina immigrants.

Martinez said the janitors hope to reach a fair agreement, but are united and ready to strike if that doesn’t happen.

SEIU spokesman David Fernandez said 100% of those voting authorized a strike. The union didn’t release the total number of those who cast ballots during three days of voting.

Fernandez said if an agreement isn’t reached by the deadline, union members will decide how to carry out any labor action.

Talking about working conditions, Martinez said while the building occupancy is lighter on certain days, the levels are close to pre-pandemic levels on other days. When the 12 janitors can’t finish the work in under 8 hours, they get warnings, she told Felix-Sowy.

Union members are also negotiating for wages that are fair and will allow the workers to pay rent and other expenses in the face of increasing costs, Felix-Sowy said.

“Members have made it very clear that it is not acceptable to say that these are minimum-wage jobs, that the intent of a collective bargaining agreement is never to be minimum,” Felix-Sowy said.

Martinez is asking for respect for the work that she does, Felix-Sowy said. “Janitors believe this is a dignified job and they should be treated that way.”

John Nesse, a labor relations attorney who represents the employers, said in an email that the cleaning contractors have met with the union several times since June. The group of employers is called the Denver Maintenance Contractors Association.

Union officials said agreements have been reached with other SEIU locals, including in Houston, Minneapolis and Seattle. Felix-Sowy said members in San Francisco have voted to authorize a strike.

Nesse said the employers are hopeful that a new agreement will be struck in Denver before the current contract expires.