Organizing Positions Available at SEIU 615!

Organizers Needed

Join this progressive, 16,000-member multi-cultural local as we build on our series of recent victories:

• A ground-breaking Master Agreement covering 12,000 commercial janitors in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and southern New Hampshire
• The first SEIU Security Officer contract in New England
• Historic union recognition agreements for three states

SEIU Local 615 seeks talented and motivated organizers, lead organizers and directors to carry this important work forward. Join our two amazing organizing campaigns: 3,000 Security Officers; and up to 5,000 commercial, residential and airport workers across Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. We also continue important base-building work among our 16,000 current members. Come work for justice for thousands of low-wage and immigrant workers in commercial, residential, higher education and public properties across the region.

To apply: send resume to Jeb Mays, SEIU Local 615, 26 West Street, Boston, MA 02111 or by email to jmays@seiu615.org. Bilingual Spanish, Portuguese or French Creole a plus.

Contract Ratified!

Boston, Mass. (September 8, 2007) – Officials from Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 615 have announced that their members have ratified a new contract between janitors and the Maintenance Contractors of New England for a new contract that will transform the lives of thousands of New England families. The contract will affect nearly 12,000 janitors who are working in buildings throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.

“This contract, which is our strongest ever, will dramatically improves the lives of close to 12,000 workers,” said Rocio Saenz, president of SEIU Local 615. “It will help move hardworking men and women out of poverty and into the middle class. Additionally, it will help create a system whereby workers are sharing in the gains that the real estate industry in New England has made in the past several years. It is an important step in creating a New England that works for everyone.”

Key provisions over the 5 year contract include

• A 23% wage increase in Boston and 25% in the suburbs of Massachusetts and Providence, to a top wage of over $16 an hour in Boston;
• 20 % of the entire Massachusetts and Rhode Island market will move from part-time to full-time work and be provided fully paid family health insurance;
• All other full-time workers in all locations will received fully paid individual health insurance;
• An increase of minimum hours so that thousands of part-time janitors have an additional 7 ½ hours of work each week;
• Janitors will have 6 sick days at the end of this agreement;
• SEIU Local 615 won a recognition process for janitors in New Hampshire and for outside Providence Rhode Island;
• Employers will pay into a training and education fund for English classes, computer classes and other skills training.

The economic impact on communities will be significant with an estimated direct annual increase of over $25 million a year into the communities in increase which janitors live and over $60 million annual impact including its broader economic benefits.

“For all the women and men who clean bathrooms and pick up trash, we now have our dignity,” said Margarita Restrepo, a member of the bargaining committee. “This contract shows that the work that we do should be respected. The agreement is an important step in achieving a New England that works for everyone.”

Transforming the Lives of Thousands of New England Families

Officials from Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 615 have announced a tentative agreement between janitors and the Maintenance Contractors of New England for a new contract that will transform the lives of thousands of New England families. The contract will affect 10,000 janitors who are working in buildings throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.

Key provisions over the 5 year contract include a 23% wage increase in Boston and 25% in the suburbs of Massachusetts and Providence, to a top wage of over $16 an hour in Boston; 20 % of entire Massachusetts and Rhode Island market will move from part-time to full-time work and provide fully paid family health insurance; all other full-time workers in all locations will received fully paid individual health insurance; and an increase of minimum hours so that thousands of part-time janitors have an additional 7 ½ hours of work each week. The economic impact on communities will be significant with an estimated direct annual increase of over $25 million a year to the communities in which janitors live and over $60 million annual impact including its broader economic benefits.

While the agreement is tentative pending ratification of the Union’s members, the bargaining committee believes it accomplished the goals that members outlined, including increasing opportunities for full time work, access to more hours, access to family health insurance and decent wage increases.

“For all the women and men who clean bathrooms and pick up trash, we now have our dignity,” said Margarita Restrepo, a member of the bargaining committee. “This contract shows that the work that we do should be respected. The agreement is an important step in achieving a New England that works for everyone.”

A Tentative Agreement has been Reached!!!

A tentative agreement has been reached in bargaining. We will have more details once the members of SEIU 615 get a chance to decide whether to ratify the agreement. So the pilgrimage march in Lawrence on Monday has been canceled. Again, stay tuned for more details. We will have more information available as soon as we can.

Strike Preparation and Training Action -- August 30

August 30 marks the final day before the expiration of the janitors' current contract. Join us in a preparation and training for janitors who may be forced to go on strike.

Join us at any of these locations:
(Click on location names for a map to the meeting point)

4:00 pm: Downtown Crossing
4:00 pm State Street T Stop
4:30 pm Burlington -- 75 Middlesex Road
5 pm -- Andover 100-200 Brickstone Square
4:30 pm -- Quincy -- 100 Newport Avenue

We'll see you in the streets!

Donate to the Strike Fund!

Every day, janitors keep the Boston economy alive by taking out our trash and scrubbing our bathrooms. Now they are asking for your help.

In 2002, janitors were forced to strike to begin to improve their lives. If necessary, they are ready to do what they must to build a better life for their families.

You can support the janitors with a financial contribution to the Strike Fund.

Checks can be mailed to:
SEIU LOCAL 615
26 West Street
Boston, MA 02111

All checks should be made out to SEIU Local 615 Strike Fund.

90 years ago, these women fought for justice

Today's janitors still want the same thing.

On Wednesday, August 22nd, janitors in downtown Boston delivered Bread and Roses to building owners.

In 1912, in Lawrence, Massachusetts, workers demanded both higher wages and a decent life for themselves and their families. Their cry of “Bread and Roses” was for more than a subsistence life and set the stage for improvements in the lives of American workers here and across the country.

Today, janitors are struggling to make ends meet without the “Bread and Roses” they need, while the New England real estate industry boasts record profits and $10 billion in sales in Boston alone.