2,400 Janitors Celebrate a Path to $15 Approve Contract Agreement Benefiting Both their Families and Communities
DENVER – Service Employee International Union (SEIU) Local 105 janitors voted overwhelmingly with 98 percent in favor, to ratify a new four-year collective bargaining agreement with cleaning contractors on Saturday. The contract, which covers more than 2,400 janitors in the Denver metro area from Boulder to the Denver Tech Center, guarantees annual raises and puts janitors on the path towards a living wage of $15 an hour.
“This is a victory for all janitors, to have a better life,” said SEIU Local 105 member and bargaining team member Magdalena Austudillo. “The Path to $15 gives us the opportunity to be able to have more time with our children, to take them to the doctor and afford their school supplies.”
The new agreement will put approximately $20 million back into the Denver economy over life of the contract. By bringing this money back to their families and neighborhoods, Denver area janitors will help strengthen their communities.
The working people of Local 105 will continue to fight to improve standards for the working people of Denver. Janitors at Denver International Airport will be negotiating their contract at the end of this year and Kaiser Permanente janitors head to the bargaining table next spring to fight for a new contract.
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SEIU Local 105 unites 7,100 healthcare and property service workers, including janitors and security guards. Together we work to build strength for all working people, on the job and in our communities. Justice for Janitors, a SEIU campaign, has helped underpaid workers organize to raise wages and increase basic benefits and job security for janitors and their families.
