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San Diego County janitors ready to strike to fight back against retaliation

01/25/2023

Janitors are members of SEIU United Service Workers West

USSWW Janitors With Signs

Janitors cleaning San Diego county offices have had enough of their employer’s bad behavior, Nova Commercial Co., and are ready to fight back for their coworkers.

Janitors are rallying around their co-worker Sofía Martínez who Nova targeted for her role as a union leader. Nova fired Martinez. Before being terminated, she was exposed to dangerous chemicals and wasn’t given equipment to protect herself.

“No security glasses, no knee pads, no filtered mask, I worked like that. Blood came out of my nose, and I felt dizzy,” said Martínez about her eight-hour assignment. “I couldn’t work the next day, but they didn’t even call the doctor. However, all my coworkers are with me, they support me, and that’s what I love about them.”

Her coworkers are ready to go on strike, if Martínez is not rightfully reinstated. They will have the support of the rest of the major unions in San Diego if the contractor doesn’t treat them with dignity and respect.

The County Board of Supervisors recently passed pro-worker measures and has launched an investigation into the employer’s behavior.

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