From: Arindrajit Dube (arindube@yahoo.com)
Date: Wed Jul 10 2002 - 17:00:34 EDT
Eight janitors who clean Verizon's Silver Spring, Maryland
building were fired recently. Their offense - uniting
coworkers to win better wages and benefits. Verizon
should insist that Service Solutions treat janitors
fairly and allow them to join a union in an environment
free from intimidation and threats.
You can take action on this alert either via email
(please see directions below) or via the web at:
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/verizon/b3b8izp3dd
Help spread the word about this important campaign.
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/verizon/forward/b3b8izp3dd
We encourage you to take action by July 31, 2002
Justice for Janitors at Verizon
----------------------
Eight janitors who clean the Verizon Communications
building in Silver Spring, Maryland were fired recently
after trying to form a union.
The janitors, who are employed by Knoxville-based Service
Solutions, were told after their Monday, June 17 shift
not to return to work Tuesday. Supervisors said they
now need only 18 employees to clean the 750,000 square-foot
building - a job that normally requires 26 janitors.
Yet, two weeks ago Service Solutions hired two new
employees to fill the spots left by the "lay offs."
Service Solutions pays its workers around $6.00 an
hour with no health insurance or any other benefit.
But according to the company's Web site its employees
come first. "We make it a point to recognize our employees'
personal achievements and to foster the full development
of their potential. And, most importantly, we encourage
a balance between work, life, and community involvement,"
the Web site says.
More than 1,500 suburban D.C. janitors launched a campaign
for better wages, health insurance and full-time work
this spring.
"All we are trying to do is make a better life for
our families," said Maria Ramos, a fired janitor who
has five children and whose husband is on disability.
"For that we've been fired. It's completely unfair."
----------------------
INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB:
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on this alert by going to the following URL:
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/verizon/b3b8izp3dd
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Your letter will be addressed and sent to:
Mr. William R. Roberts
-------YOU MAY EDIT THE LETTER BELOW---------
I am writing to express my concern about the janitors
who clean Verizon's Silver Spring, Maryland building.
It has been brought to my attention that since the
spring, these workers have been targeted by the cleaning
contractor in your building, Service Solutions, because
they are seeking higher wages and benefits. And recently,
Service Solutions fired eight workers after trying
to form a union.
Please urge Service Solutions to respect industry standards
and follow federal labor law. The fired janitors should
be reinstated immediately.
-------END OF LETTER-------------------------
Sincerely yours,
Arin Dube
Harvard Living Wage
berkeley, CA
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