SEIU proposes a 44% increase in companies’ contributions to family health care coverage

The leading building maintenance companies serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area continued to work for a negotiated agreement on a contract covering their local janitorial employees, even as the labor union representing the janitors issued inaccurate public statements mischaracterizing the companies’ proposals. The janitors are represented by SEIU Local 26.

The two sides conducted bargaining sessions this week and agreed to continue negotiations under the auspices of a federal mediator later this week.

In a statement, the Minneapolis-St. Paul Contract Cleaners Association said:

“The Minneapolis-St. Paul Contract Cleaners Association has been working to engage in good-faith negotiating sessions with the SEIU for months and we’re pleased that negotiations continue later this week. Obviously, we are disappointed that the union is publicly mischaracterizing our positions and the facts. In the heat of bargaining sessions, they may be using these types of statements to try to gain some negotiating advantage. Regardless of their rhetoric, we are committed to negotiate this matter in good faith at the bargaining table. We will continue to work hard to achieve resolution in the mutual best interest of workers, tenants, and building owners and managers.

“A review of the facts is essential. First, these janitors are paid significantly higher wages and benefits than their counterparts in other major Midwestern cities. Second, their compensation package includes excellent health care coverage for which they pay less than 6% of the costs. Third, the union proposed un-affordably high pay increases in excess of 15% and other significant benefit changes, including, for example, a 44% increase in the companies’ contributions to family health care coverage. These proposals are simply unrealistic given the current economic environment, which remains extremely challenging. This is especially true for our local real estate market, which has historically high vacancy rates.”

The contractors will continue to serve customers and provide cleaning services to their buildings.

The maintenance contractor companies involved in the bargaining include: ABM Janitorial Services; FBG Service Corporation; Harvard Maintenance, Inc.; Mid-City Cleaning Contractors, Inc.; and Triangle Services.

SOURCE Minneapolis-St. Paul Contract Cleaners Association