12/11/2020 Justice for Janitors | Sutori https://www.sutori.com/story/justice-for-janitors--hvgqgXLCQKYELp92R5HV9sfb 1/24 CS Christopher Scheer Justice for Janitors In 1990, members of the Los Angeles janitors union (SEIU Local 399) launched a strike that would help to change the U.S. labor movement. The “Justice for Janitors,” also known as J4J, campaign pit low wage, mostly immigrant men and women against some of the wealthiest and most politically connected corporations in L.A. Using civil disobedience, dramatic public actions, sophisticated corporate research, and community solidarity the Justice for Janitors campaign combined top-down and grassroots approaches to social change. After the 1990 victory, the union continued organizing systematically for a decade. A successful strike in the spring of 2000 won a countywide contract and signaled the rising political power of Latinos in southern California. 1980s
Justice for JanitorsIn 1990, members of the Los Angeles janitors union (SEIU Local 399) launched a strike that would help to change the U.S. labor movement. The “Justice for Janitors,” also known as J4J, campaign pit low wage,
mostly immigrant men and women against some of the wealthiest and most politically connected corporations in L.A. Using civil disobedience, dramatic public actions, sophisticated corporate research, and community solidarity the Justice for Janitors campaign combined top-down and grassroots approaches to
social change. After the 1990 victory, the union continued organizing systematically for a decade. A successful strike in the spring of 2000 won a countywide contract and signaled the rising political power of
1987: Gas Company Building DriveSEIU Local 399 attempts to unionize the janitors at the Gas Company, one of the biggest buildings in downtown LA. Although the drive fails the union experimented with mobilizing immigrant and undocumented janitorial workers.
Call It a Comeback Here a janitor works in a high-priced commercial building in Los Angeles in the late 1980s. After becoming a solid job by the height of the labor movement, the demographics of the janitorial labor had changed dramatically even as benefits, wages and conditions had declined through the 1970s and '80s.
Something Happening HereDowntown picket, late 1980s. The roots of the Justice for Janitors struggle go back decades, but it wasn't until a new generation of organizers and rank-and-file members came together with innovative, aggressive and media-friendly tactics supported with national and regional union resources that great victories could be won.
1988: Gathering ForcesIn Los Angeles, the early years of the campaign included large conventions of union members that built excitement and commitment for the campaign.
1988: J4J Arrives in LA“Justice for Janitors” begins. Having made building services a priority of his leadership efforts, John Sweeny, president of the SEIU, launches a national campaign to unionize the janitorial workers into the SEIU. The first major effort launched in Denver in 1986, and in 1988 “Justice for Janitors” organizers arrive in Los Angeles.
1989: Labor in the HouseUnion members and national leaders march through a downtown building. Lane Kirkland (AFL-CIO) and John Sweeney (SEIU) are pictured.
1989: Actions BeginDowntown campaign targeting ABM (American Building Maintenance) & Bradford Building Maintenance (a subsidiary of ABM). In April 1989 Local 399 signs Master agreement for all of downtown, the campaign’s first victory.
1989: Stacking VictoriesFollowing the downtown victory, Local 399 begins Century City campaign targeting ISS, a Danish-owned international corporation.
Police Brutality Backfires on City's Power ElitesVictory in the Century City campaign follows police violence against janitors blocking streets. Over time, J4J was able to win broad public and political support in their David vs. Goliath struggle against large property owners paying hard-working people peanuts in supposedly progressive LA. Entertainment companies and universities, police and politicians were all embarrassed into backpedaling on anti-union actions. CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO.
A Labor Legend PassesPresident of Local 399, George Hardy dies. Hardy served as president of the SEIU from 1971-1980.His organizing career began in San Francisco in the depths of the Great Depression. He is credited with much of the organizing success of the SEIU on the West Coast. PICTURE: George Hardy speaking at the 1976 SEIU Convention in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Political Satire, Mass ActionA janitors rally in 1990, giving it the caption. LA Times caption: “Union demonstrators who marched around the downtown high rise buildings where they rallied for better contracts, end with skit of character of a greedy contractor who pays poor wages for cleaning services.”
SEIU 399 annouces a contract settlement with the International Service System, "the chief adversary in a year of struggle," reports a union newspaper.
Civil Disobedience CampaignJustice for Janitors picketers gather before their massive march through Century City for a civil disobedience training. These public training events signaled union members’ resolve and peaceful intentions to the wider community, as well as preparing members for potential confrontations with police. [socialjusticehistory.org]
1992: Rebellion in the CityFollowing LA Civil Unrest in the aftermath of the Rodney King police brutality trial, Local 1877 criticizes head of “Rebuild LA” initiative for promoting low wage jobs.
Video "Justice for Janitors 1995 Strike News", with interviews with several leaders including Mike Garcia, Rocio Saenz, and Jono Shaffer.
1992-95: The Work ContinuesCampaigns to organize janitors at Toyota, LACMA, Hughs Aircraft and other employers are undertaken. 1995: Nationally, John Sweeney (from SEIU) is elected president of AFL-CIO in a contested election
1994: Immigrant Backlash PeaksProposition 187 passes which would prohibit illegal immigrants from accessing health care, education and other social services in the state of California. Challenged as unconstituional, it is blocked immediately in the courts via injunction and never goes into effect. However, its main backer, Republican Gov. Pete Wilson rides its momentum to victory on the back of racist fearmongering.
1996: A New Leader RisesMiguel Contreras (former United Farm Workers organizer and Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union Local 11 organizer) elected president of Los Angeles Federation of Labor. He makes organizing and supporting immigrant workers’ rights a priority.
“Trabajador Inmigrante” Conoce Tus Derechos! | Immigrant Worker: Know Your Rights!The cartoon superhero Mop Man explains that employers may not require workers to present immigration paperwork, and instead must accept other forms of identification like a drivers license. Workers are encouraged to contact the National Immigration Law Center, or a union representative.
Actions, Always ActionsJanitors protest on International Women's Day, 1995. CLICK HERE to see English and Spanish television news coverage of J4J action at Wilshire and Westwood where 39 women were arrested for their sit-in at one of the busiest intersections in LA. Features interviews with Rosa Ayala, Jono Shaffer, Maria Elena Durazo, and others.
1995-97: ReorganizationLocal 399 faces internal strife and re-organization. Mike Garcia from Local 1877 (Bay Area janitorial union) is sent in by the SEIU national office to serve as trustee of Local 399. Local leaders vote to split building service and health care workers into separate locals. Justice for Janitors becomes part of SEIU Local 1877 and health care workers retain Local 399. In '97, Andy Stern becomes president of SEIU nationally.
Union Victories1997: Victory at USC, although struggles with the university would continue leading to a group fasting campaign in 1999.1998: Respect @ LAX campaign successfully targets service workers at Los Angeles International Airport1999: Maintenance Cooperation Trust Fund (MCTF) formed, funded by contributions by employers.
Political Victories1997: Los Angeles enacts a Living Wage Ordinance.1998: Democrat Gray Davis elected governor of California defeating the sitting governor, Republican Pete Wilson who had campaigned against immigrant rights1999: Living Wage Ordinance extended to include workers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
PICTURE: Striking suburban janitors of the Service Employees International Union at a mass rally in Oak Brook, Illinois, April, 25, 2000.
J4J Is National Effort, Looks for Major Victory in LAJustice for Janitors was never only in LA, and across the country immigrants played a role in the campaign. Salvadoran immigrants in California were especially pivotal in building the movement. In 2000, efforts in Los Angeles to rebuild a strong, broad and viable union movement again reached a peak with a new round of J4J organizing, strikes, marches and even a mass "pilgrimage" to the site of police beatings ten years earlier.
