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WHEREAS, SEIU 32BJ is the largest union of property service workers in the U.S. with more than 163,000 members along the Eastern Seaboard. In Western Pennsylvania, 6,400 members work as commercial office cleaners, security officers, school and university workers, who fight to defend workers’ rights and make our communities stronger; and,
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WHEREAS, commercial office cleaners across Pittsburgh started to fight for living wages more than 30 years ago with the Justice for Janitors campaign, and in 2017, Nova Place workers continued those efforts by launching their own campaign to unionize under SEIU 32BJ. When they joined 32BJ, their wages instantly increased to $15 an hour; and,
WHEREAS, members of SEIU 32BJ clean nearly every major building in the Pittsburgh region, and through years of struggle they have fought to create strong union jobs with livable wages, benefits, and the power of dignity in the workplace.; and,
WHEREAS, fifteen 32BJ members were displaced from their jobs last year at Nova Place on the North Side when building owner Faros Properties unexpectedly replaced a 32BJ contractor with Checklist Facility Maintenance; and,
WHEREAS, Checklist Facility Maintenance took the uncustomary practice of not hiring the incumbent 32BJ members, replacing all of them with brand new workers. In addition, Checklist Facility Maintenance immorally slashed wages, leaving more than 30 years of progress at risk; and,
WHEREAS, Checklist Facility Maintenance violated Federal Labor Law by illegally refusing to hire the 32BJ members because of their membership in SEIU. 32BJ members working at Nova Place have been forced to hold two to three jobs or they have been unemployed and relying on assistance. Their way of life has been devastated; and,
WHEREAS, despite their hardship, the 32BJ members stick together, longing for justice. Their bond cannot be broken and they refuse to allow companies to promote fear and oppression in the workplace; and,
WHEREAS, 32BJ members filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Checklist Facility Maintenance. Of the complaints, the most blatant was illegal discrimination, refusing to hire 32BJ members unless they renounced their union membership with 32BJ; and,
WHEREAS, the NLRB issued a Complaint against Checklist Facility Maintenance after finding sufficient evidence that the company violated federal law, and will be taking Checklist to trial next month; and,
WHEREAS, the men and women who live in the City of Steel cannot afford this type of injustice. The hard working people who help to strengthen our communities deserve dignity and respect, and the sense of security that they can provide for themselves and their families.
NOW, THEREOFRE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby denounces all illegal and unfair labor practices. We stand with 32BJ members, our residents, the hard working women and men of Pittsburgh, and we hereby demand that Faros Properties hires law-abiding contractors.