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Houstons janitors are back - protesting in downtown
by RoB
Friday, Jun. 15, 2007 at 3:07 PM
I caught most of the march and rally of SEIU in downtown Houston, protesting the scab policies of PJS contractors and the building managers that hire them to stamp out organizing in their buildings.
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I biked downtown today and joined a march of around 100-125 janitors and supporters through downtown Houston. The Janitors are on the march again after their victory in 2006, winning thousands of janitors a contract and a wage above the minimum wage. Today the target is the Professional Janitorial Service (PJS) firm, one widely regarded as anti-union.
Acording to flyers being distributed by people in the march:
"unlike the city's other leading cleaning companies, PJS is resisting janitors efforts to raise standards in the cleaning industry and has allegedly violated federal pay and labor laws, according to claims pending in federal court before the National Labor Relations Board."
The march started at 1010 Lamar, a building managed by PM Realty who contracts PJS to clean their building (the flyer I have encourages people to support the janitors by calling PM Realty at 713-654-0608 and ask them to use a responsible cleaning contractor that provides a real future for janitors and their families). The march winded through downtown during lunch time, past many gawking buiesness people. the 100+ marchers stretched long enough that we could not all cross at a crosswalk and had to stop almost every block for everyone to catch up. There were probably around 20 cops on horses, bikes and on foot, surrounding and following the march.
The march ended at The Wedge Building, (WEDGE Group is an energy, construction and real estate company who from 1997 to 2004 was CEO'd by Bill White) who in 2006, switched cleaning contractors to PJS and away from a company which has allowed their Houston workers to Unionize. We were met outside by a giant rat, with PJS written on its belly. in front of the WEDGE building, a number of supporters from the community spoke, and people continued to drum chant and heckle the rich folks that keep thousands in poverty.
Organizing workers in Texas, with its 'right to work' laws is very difficult, and a union-busting company like PJS could easily find a lot more buisness if there isnt constant pressure against such unethical behavior by workers and their allies. SEIU and the janitors expect the next couple of weeks to be very active, and hopefully Houston Indymedia will be covering a lot of this struggle.
www.houstonjanitors.org/
Skyscapers, horses and marchers
by RoB
Friday, Jun. 15, 2007 at 3:07 PM
skyscrapersandpigsonhorses.jpg, image/jpeg, 600x450
www.houstonjanitors.org/question-taxpayerdollars-20807/
Drummin
by RoB
Friday, Jun. 15, 2007 at 3:07 PM
ladywithdrum.jpg, image/jpeg, 600x450
www.houstonjanitors.org/question-taxpayerdollars-20807/
More Drummin
by RoB
Friday, Jun. 15, 2007 at 3:07 PM
lilianddrums.jpg, image/jpeg, 600x450
www.houstonjanitors.org/question-taxpayerdollars-20807/
Young Voices
by RoB
Friday, Jun. 15, 2007 at 3:07 PM
forthekids.jpg, image/jpeg, 600x450
www.houstonjanitors.org/question-taxpayerdollars-20807/
The Wedge building attacked by godzilla rat
by RoB
Friday, Jun. 15, 2007 at 3:07 PM
giantratinfrontawedge.jpg, image/jpeg, 600x450
The Wedge Building, Bill White's former stomping ground hired PJS as their janitorial contractor so they could avoid having to pay union rates to their workers.
www.houstonjanitors.org/question-taxpayerdollars-20807/
Dave Atwood was one of a number of speakers and supporters from the community
by RoB
Friday, Jun. 15, 2007 at 3:07 PM
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I also heard Maria Jimenez and Teodoro Agiluz
www.houstonjanitors.org/question-taxpayerdollars-20807/
Wedge Security taking pictures
by RoB
Friday, Jun. 15, 2007 at 3:07 PM
wedge_security.jpg, image/jpeg, 600x319
www.houstonjanitors.org/question-taxpayerdollars-20807/
You cant feed a kid with 5.15 an hour
by RoB
Friday, Jun. 15, 2007 at 3:07 PM
kidwithhat.jpg, image/jpeg, 450x600
www.houstonjanitors.org/question-taxpayerdollars-20807/
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