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Story: Justice for Janitors
This story highlights the struggle and recent victory of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 26, a Union of over 5,000 janitors, security guards, and window cleaners. In 2006 the Union won a historic new contract that includes affordable family health insurance for the first time. Historically, the union movement is a movement of immigrants. Thus, in addition to livable wages and healthcare insurance, the union is advocating for immigration reform. The president of the Union, Javier Morillo-Alicea, is convinced that this victory is important for everyone because reducing disparities and educating new workers is important for the future of a competitive workforce.
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| Key Terms |
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| Health Insurance |
ICESCR (International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultutal Rights |
| Union |
Union Movement |
| Collective bargaining |
Strike |
| Health Care |
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Click here to take a Survey
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| Before Viewing |
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Why do you think unions were created? What working conditions do unions usually negotiate with employers? What do you think is the role of unions today?
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| After Viewing |
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- For what results were union members fighting? Why?
- Why is healthcare one of the most important issues?
- How does income influence one’s healthcare insurance? Is it fair?
- How does the immigrant labor force change labor unions’ concerns?
- When Javier Morillo-Alicea says “it’s more than just janitors,” what does he mean?
- How does the situation of immigrant workers affect you today? How will it affect you and your family in the future?
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| Suggested Activities |
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Going Deeper: Economic and Social Rights
Divide the participants into discussion teams to explore one of these human rights issues: homelessness, hunger, lack of adequate healthcare, inadequate working wages and conditions. Each team should assign a note-taker to report back on the group discussion to the larger group.
First invite the small groups to consider general questions related to human rights violations, then turn their attention to more issue-specific questions. Explain that they are not expected to know all the answers, but that the questions are there to stimulate discussion rather then provide facts.
Invite participants to conclude their discussion with the planning for change questions. When the groups are ready, invite volunteer note-takers to share a few points about their group discussion, and focus on their group's response to the planning for change questions.
Click on the links below to see questions.
General Questions
Issue-Specific Interview Questions.
- Resources
Have participants read and discuss the article: Janitors' Victory Brings Hope to Cincinnati Families, Creates New Model for Ensuring Good Jobs with Health Care for Region's Low-Wage Workers [1] . http://www.seiu.org/media/pressreleases.cfm?pr_id=1460
Useful sites for local statistics:
Twin Cities Compass www.tccompass.org
Mind the Gap Report www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/reports/2005/10cities_sohmer/20051027_mindthegap.pdf
[1] Reprinted with permission from Lynda Tran and Kevin O'Donnell, SEIU, Washington, DC.
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