A week ago, I wrote about how janitors at high-tech companies across Silicon Valley were walking out on strike to protest the low wages they're paid.
Well, the strike is over and the janitors have won some big improvements:
"Before the strike the companies offered wage increases of 11 percent, but now we’ve won twice as much, up to 22 percent or $2.40 more per hour by the end of the contract. This will help us begin to provide for our families in the way that we want to, so we can do better than just survive," said Maria Granada, a janitor at Applied Materials.
Janitors overwhelmingly approved the four-year pact that will boost wages up to $1,250 a year and improve access to family healthcare. The new agreement will extend family healthcare coverage to nearly 75 percent of Bay Area janitors by 2012, when the contract will expire. Waiting periods for family healthcare eligibility will be reduced from 30 months to 18 months by the end of the contract.
For perspective on that pay raise, remember that the average janitor in the Bay Area is only making $23,000 a year -- so this will be a pretty significant raise for a lot of hard-working people who deserve one.
Comments (2)
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You put lots of cats on here.
Posted by CJO on May 30, 2008 at 12:34 PM
Posted on May 30, 2008 at 12:34 PM
That's terrific news. Great targets, great strategy.... Nicely done.
Posted by rungrrl on May 30, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Posted on May 30, 2008 at 8:21 PM