The leading building maintenance companies serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area reiterated their commitment to a negotiated agreement on a contract covering their local janitorial employees, despite a strike authorization vote by SEIU Local 26, the labor union representing the janitors.
This week, the two sides conducted bargaining sessions under the auspices of a federal mediator.
In a statement, the Minneapolis-St. Paul Contract Cleaners Association said:
"We are deeply disappointed with the union's action and urge them to join us in working to negotiate a contract in the mutual best interest of workers, tenants, and building owners and managers. We invite them to negotiate in good faith and put aside their campaign of inaccurate public statements that mischaracterize our proposals and positions. Regardless of their rhetoric, we are prepared to sit down again at the bargaining table.
"We reiterate some key facts:
1. Twin Cities janitors are paid significantly higher wages and benefits than their counterparts in other major Midwestern cities and their compensation package includes excellent health care coverage for which they pay less than 6% of the costs;
2. The Twin Cities face a difficult economy and an extremely challenging local commercial real estate market; and
3. Despite these challenges, the union's initial proposal featured unrealistically high wage increases of more than 15% and a 44% increase in the companies' contributions to family health care coverage – for a combined 60% increase over three years – above and beyond its other benefit and non-economic proposals.
"In any event, we are committed to continuing to serve our customers."
The maintenance contractor companies involved in the bargaining include: ABM Janitorial Services; FBG Service Corporation; Harvard Maintenance, Inc.; Mid-City Cleaning Contractors, Inc.; and Triangle Services.
Contacts:
for Minneapolis-St. Paul Contract Cleaners Association
Eric Berman,
212-521-4894
eric-berman@kekst.com