Janitor CBA Negotiations End Without Agreement

Houston’s Janitorial Collective Bargaining negotiations have ended with no agreement being reached.

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the janitors bargaining committee requested  a nearly twenty percent increase in wages over a three year period as well as nearly $100 increases in health care costs over the three-year term of the agreement. These proposals were rejected by the Houston janitorial contractors. Also unresolved is the SEIU’s request to increase janitors hours to 30 hours per week by the end of year three and several other benefit issues.

There are no additional talks scheduled and the SEIU refused the contractors offer of a contract extension. According to the SEIU, the janitors plan to meet on May 26 to determine their next move. The Houston collective bargaining agreement expires on May 31.

This follows the SEIU’s normal pattern of pushing contract negotiations to the deadline of the contract and then creating what they hope will be a sense of urgency. We can expect more protests in the interim although what we have experienced so far has been mild and with very little participation by the janitors.

Interestingly, there is plenty of time before the Houston contract expires, but the SEIU International Convention is going on in Denver next week...priorities, priorities. #tb