Local Politicians, Community Leaders Rally for Good Jobs and a Stronger Economy

More than one hundred janitors and allies march to Chase Plaza to call for a recovery that puts working families first

MILWAUKEE – More than 100 Milwaukee-area janitors and community supporters rallied Saturday to call for an economic recovery that creates good jobs for working families.  The union contract that helps janitors make ends meet and gives them access to health care is set to expire on July 31st.

“To get our economy back on track, working families need to make ends meet,” said Tom Balanoff, President of SEIU Local 1.  “Communities need good jobs, not more money put into pockets of the richest Americans and big corporations.”

Good jobs for workers are needed to help revive our struggling economy because two-thirds of our nation’s Gross Domestic Product comes from consumer spending, according to a recent federal government report.

“If people like us could make ends meet, our communities and our economy would be stronger.” said Maxine Shields, an ABM janitor and union steward, “If we had more money, we would spend it on our daily necessities; we would buy the things our children need; and we would be able to pay our bills.”
 
Janitors were joined at the Midwest Convention Center by political and community leaders who called on corporations to create good jobs to stimulate our economy.  State Representative Pedro Colon, State Senator Spencer Coggs, and Alderman Willy Wade all pledged their support for Milwaukee’s janitors and stressed the need for good jobs in our communities.

“We want an economy that works for working class people – not just for banks and CEOs” Senator Coggs told the audience. “We’re all being asked to sacrifice right now, but working people are barely getting by. It’s time for the people who caused this crisis to make sacrifices for a change.”

Janitors ended the rally with a march to Chase Plaza to protest banks that have misused billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded bailout money. Many bailed-out banks paid huge bonuses to well-paid executives at the same time they were laying off middle-class workers.

Despite receiving $25 billion in taxpayer-funded bailout money, Chase has announced plans to lay off as many as 12,000 workers. With $25 billion, Chase could have created more than a million jobs at a Milwaukee janitor’s rate of pay.

In spite of their hard work, some Milwaukee janitors make less than half the cost of living for a family of four in the Milwaukee area. Janitors gathered at the convention center reported that despite the progress they have made, many are still struggling to pay their mortgages, put food on the table and create a better life for their children.

To revive our economy, people who work hard need to make a good living instead of treading water or falling behind.  Workers, not just CEOs, need to be able to benefit from the economic progress they help create.

Janitors begin union contract talks on July 21st stand their contract expires July 31st.