[2014] in peace2
JUSTICE FOR JANITORS CAMPAIGN WINS!!! STRIKE OVER!
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (sweiwang@MIT.EDU)
Wed Oct 23 18:49:28 2002
From: sweiwang@MIT.EDU
Message-ID: <1035413255.3db7270733436@webmail.mit.edu>
Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 18:47:35 -0400
To: peace-announce@mit.edu, utr-announce@mit.edu, labor-announce@mit.edu,
greens-announce@mit.edu
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
hello,
an good agreement was reached. (yes, it could always be better.)
but this is a definite victory!
no day of chaos tomorrow. there will be celebration!
i will relay more detailed information about the settlement asap.
p.s. also rejoice that you will no longer be inundated with justice for
janitors emails from me.
peace.
Wang, stephanie wei
Boston Globe
Settlement reached in janitors strike
By Associated Press, 10/23/02
Striking Boston-area janitors and cleaning contractors reached a settlement
Wednesday according to both sides, ending a three-week labor dispute
centered around janitors' demands for higher wages, health insurance, and
more full-time work.
Announcement of the settlement was made late this afternoon by Mayor Thomas
M. Menino.
Menino said at a 5:30 p.m. press conference that 1,000 part-time janitors
will receive health insurance as part of the settlement.
The strike, which started Sept. 30, targeted nearly 100 high profile
buildings throughout the Boston area, from the downtown Financial District
to suburban business parks.
Contractors claimed the labor dispute did little to disrupt their operations
and 90 percent of janitors reported to work.
The janitors, represented by the Service Employees International Union Local
254, staged numerous noisy and colorful pickets, and received struck public
supports from people ranging from Cardinal Bernard Law to college students.
Acting Gov. Jane Swift gave the workers a boost by severing the Statehouse's
contract with Unicco, the company at the center of the janitors strike.
The move averted a planned picket of the Statehouse that had lawmakers
scrambling to find other places to work. Many politicians, as well as other
unions, including the Teamsters, had pledged not to cross picket lines.
Prominent Boston businesses, including John Hancock Financial Services,
State Street Corp. and FleetBoston Financial Corp., said they would be
willing to look at additional costs to accommodate increases in janitors'
pay.
But their overtures to the cleaning contractors were rejected, James B.
Canavan, lead negotiator for the cleaning contractors. The contractors said
that the contract offer was the best the janitors had ever received, and the
strike was being driven by protesters shipped in from out of state.
