Office cleaners who make $17.60 an hour rallied up and down Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda Thursday to gain support for a fair wage contract.
Their contract with Washington Service Contractors Association expires Oct. 15.
Clad in purple union shirts, SEIU 32BJ members chanted, “No contract. No peace” in both English and Spanish. They stopped often in front of Wisconsin Avenue’s tall buildings where they clean bathrooms, vacuum, take out the trash and other tasks.
They were joined by Councilmember Natali Fani-González and Maryland Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher and Delegate Jared Solomon, who all said they strongly support the workers.
The union members, most of whom are immigrants, clean commercial multi-tenant buildings, including the Westfield malls, Kaiser Permanente and Lockheed Martin. About 1,200 union members work in more than 200 office buildings Montgomery County.
Several union members standing by the entrance to the Bethesda Metro said that they did not feel appreciated even though they were considered essential workers during the pandemic.
In Montgomery County, 35 of their members died from COVID.
According to SEIU 32BJ Executive Vice President Jaime Contreras, their wages aren’t keeping up with inflation and the high cost of living in Montgomery County.
Prior to 2003, when the office cleaners were not unionized, they were paid minimum wage and received no sick days or other benefits.
“Since 2003, we have made some progress in Montgomery County, but we still haven’t gotten enough, because it is expensive as hell to live in this area,” Contreras said.
County Executive Marc Elrich and Councilmembers Evan Glass, Laurie-Anne Sayles, Will Jawando, Sidney Katz, Kate Stewart, Dawn Luedtke, Gabe Albornoz and Fani-González signed a pledge of support for a fair contract.
Members of SEIU32BJ are rallying now for fair wages and reasonable hours at Bethesda Metro. Members clean offices and malls throughout Montgomery County. @mymcmedia @32BJSEIU pic.twitter.com/tnHAX676Fb
— suzanne pollak (@SuzannePollak) October 5, 2023
I support office cleaners on their decision to strike if necessary to get wages that keep up with inflation. We stand with you today, tomorrow, and until we win a fair contract. @32BJSEIU with @jwaldstreicher and @jaredssolomon 💜✊🏽 pic.twitter.com/5qN5HsjWrM
— Natali Fani-González (@NataliFGonzalez) October 5, 2023
“I’ve had to cut back on food, gasoline, clothing and shoes for my kids. We are ready to strike if we don’t get wages that keep up the cost of living!” Yesika Morales, a member of 32BJ in Rockville for 10 years, and a single mother of four. pic.twitter.com/Gbu0pvxAW7
— 32BJ SEIU /// #BuildingJustice 🧹✊🏽 (@32BJSEIU) October 5, 2023
