SEIU Local 1 Essential Janitors Ratify New St. Louis Janitorial Contract Affecting 1,600 Working Families
The “Yes” vote comes after Local 1 members rejected the first contract offer from the Contract Cleaners Association
ST. LOUIS, MO — Today, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1 essential janitors who service hundreds of buildings across greater St. Louis – including schools, universities, banks, hospitals, public spaces, and more – voted to ratify a strong new contract covering 1,600 essential janitors. This victory for St. Louis working families comes after a months-long campaign that included rallies at iconic St. Louis buildings, delegations, political support from the Board of Aldermen, and member leaders fighting for a strong, fair contract.
On November 15, SEIU Local 1 janitors unanimously rejected the first contract offer from the Contract Cleaners Association, which includes the two biggest cleaning contracting companies servicing St. Louis, 4M and Clean-Tech, along with Woodley Building Maintenance, SBM, and ABM. Local 1 members were loud and clear at the first ratification vote: essential janitors who keep hundreds of buildings in greater St. Louis safe and sanitized would not accept an offer that doesn’t properly value the essential work that is done. Contractors returned to the negotiating table a few weeks later, with the current contract having expired back on October 31, 2025.
What resulted was one of the best contracts that SEIU Local 1 janitors in St. Louis have ever won. The 3-year contract sees a 43% increase to the pension contributions, protects healthcare with monthly premium for medical coverage cut almost in half and can include better dental and also vision for the first time, and significant wage increases every year throughout the life of the contract. Other victories include an additional sick day, additional vacation for janitors with 25+ years of service, commitments for reasonable efforts to get materials and notices in native languages for shops with monolingual employees, and language that protects seniority if a displaced employee is hired by a different contractor.
Now, Local 1 members can do the janitorial work that has a direct impact on the health, productivity, and satisfaction of the tenants and residents who use these buildings throughout greater St. Louis, while knowing they are earning the wages, benefits, and respect working people deserve.
“I am extremely proud of the fight my fellow members and I showed, and even more proud of the contract we won,” said Belinda Hutcherson, Local 1 bargaining committee member and 4M janitor. “We weren’t going to accept chump change, and that is why we rejected the first contract offer. Then we went back to the negotiation table and stood firm, knowing the contract we deserved should include fair wage increases, dignified benefits, and respect on the job. This victory happened because working people stuck together and knew our worth.”
"Local 1 members showed their companies that they are tired of struggling with minimum wage jobs and poor retirement benefits,” said Chris Rak, SEIU Local 1 Vice President and Missouri Director. “I'm proud of our member leaders for leading this fight to demand they are better rewarded for the vital work of keeping buildings clean and safe for St. Louis tenants."