Supermarket Cleaners
Janitors who keep supermarkets clean and open for business won a landmark victory in 2006 when hundreds of Safeway janitors went from $7/hour without benefits up to $13/hour with full family health care, paid sick days, paid holidays, paid vacation and a pension for a more secure retirement – all within just one year of forming a union with SEIU Local 1877. The Safeway janitor’s first contract brought total compensation up more than 125% and has inspired low-wage service workers across the state to come together to win good jobs and better lives.
Since the 1930s, supermarket janitors have been members of SEIU, but like many industries union membership began to decline in the 1980s. The stores began to contract janitorial work and wages, benefits and working conditions began to decline rapidly. Workers reacted by organizing and picketing the grocery chains. Their visibility prompted the Los Angeles Times to investigate worksite violations. Consequently intimidation by the supervisors, injuries on the job and horrible working conditions were exposed and the supermarket chains were forced to clean up their act.