Union Difference
More than 225,000 janitors in more than 30 cities throughout Canada and the United States have already united in SEIU to create a better life for themselves and their families.
In the past, cleaners at different work locations organized and attempted to negotiate contracts with management separately from each other. While this ‘one building/one contract’ approach resulted in some improvements it has not given us the bargaining power to raise standards significantly.
The Justice for Janitors approach is different. By uniting cleaning workers across a market, and calling upon community leaders to join them, workers begin to gain the necessary power to demand significant improvements to wages, benefits and working conditions.
Janitors in Montreal recently united and transformed poverty jobs in their city into work with a brighter future. The differences are obvious:
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Montreal Janitors |
Toronto Janitors |
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Cleaning Industry Snap Shot |
80% of janitors are covered by a single collective bargaining agreement negotiated by SEIU.
Every janitor benefits. |
Some janitors have individual building contracts. Non-unionized janitors are not protected by any collective agreement.
It’s a race to the bottom . |
|
Wages |
Start at $14/hr *
with steady incremental raises
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$8/hr **
with no raise in sight
(Non-union)
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Family Health Benefits |
Yes
( Union )
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No
(Non-union)
|
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Sick Leave |
Yes
(Union)
|
No
|
* Starting wages for janitors in Montreal range from $13.90 – $14.80 ** Starting wages for janitors in Toronto generally range from $8.00 - $8.25.