Janitors Call Off Strike, Head Back to Work Tonight

SILICON VALLEY - After a strike of more than 1,000 janitors that impacted Silicon Valley's high-tech giants and spread throughout the Bay Area, janitors won higher wages, improved access to family healthcare and other benefits in a four-year pact covering 6,000 janitors. The total increase in benefits and wages is estimated at $99 million over the life of the contract. Janitors will now end the strike and return to work as soon as tonight.

Before the strike the companies offered wage increases of 11 percent, but now we've won twice as much, up to 22 percent or $2.40 more per hour by the end of the contract. This will help us begin to provide for our families in the way that we want to, so we can do better than just survive," said Maria Granada, a janitor at Applied Materials.

Janitors overwhelmingly approved the four-year pact that will boost wages up to $1,250 a year and improve access to family healthcare. The new agreement will extend family healthcare coverage to nearly 75 percent of Bay Area janitors by 2012, when the contract will expire. Waiting periods for family healthcare eligibility will be reduced from 30 months to 18 months by the end of the contract.

Some High-Tech Leaders Vow to Do Better
A number of area high-tech companies are choosing to go beyond the gains made in the agreement by establishing a career ladder, increasing pay by 31 percent and lowering waiting periods for access to individual healthcare to 6 months and family healthcare to 12 months. This commitment from companies who have requested anonymity would cover up to 500 Silicon Valley-area janitors.

"Some companies are showing the leadership and innovation that the Silicon Valley is known for, by creating this new high-tech standard," said Mike Garcia, president of SEIU Local 1877. "With the rising cost of housing, gas, food and other basic necessities, it's only right that janitors who work hard now have a career ladder to move into higher paying worksites by seniority."

For the first time ever, janitors can move up into higher paying worksites by seniority, creating a career ladder that will help reduce turnover in the industry.

String of Historic Victories by Janitors Across California
The Silicon Valley and Bay Area janitors' victory is the third in as many weeks.

Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego janitors have also recently won new contracts with higher wages, improved access to healthcare and other benefits. SEIU Local 1877 represents 20,000 janitors across California.

Next Steps: Sacramento
With the Silicon Valley and Bay Area janitors contract now settled, the janitors' union SEIU Local 1877 will focus on winning a new contract for 2,000 janitors in Sacramento. The contract there expires May 31.

Further details of the agreement are available on the janitors' union website www.seiu-usww.org.

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