Workers of the World Unite!

Good God, everybody, "in Houston, 14 janitors and supporters were arrested after handcuffing themselves to each other and to the front door of Chevron's Houston headquarters building.http://www.chevronwontyoujoinus.org/"

They threw garbage bags into the revolving door and tossed the bags around the entrance before they handcuffed themselves together.

It took about 15 minutes for police to arrive.

"Chevron is one of a number of companies that contracts for office cleaning in Houston, and is not a party to the talks between the SEIU and several janitorial cleaning companies," according to a statement from Chevron.

"We respect the process of representation and negotiation, and we encourage those parties to reach an agreement that is acceptable to both sides."

The Service Employees International Union represents 5,300 janitors in Houston who work for the city's five largest cleaning companies.

About one-third of the janitors, who earn an average of $5.30 an hour, launched a strike Oct. 23.

They want a raise in wages to $8.50 an hour and to get health care benefits.

The SEIU focused on Chevron because it's a market leader in Houston, SEIU spokeswoman Lynda Tran said.

"If they were to instruct their contractors to pay higher wages and benefits, it would go a long way toward moving the business community here to follow suit," Tran said. chron.com

Then the cops came on horses and trampled the peaceful demonstrators, wounding four, including an 83 year-old grandmother from New Jersey who came to protest.

The arrested were places on bonds of $888,000, totalling $39.1 million.

Chevron maked $10 billion in profit the last quarter, they can afford to pay a decent wage. Support industrial workers to save American jobs for your children.

Call Chevron now and tell them to settle the strike

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In Houston call Ed Spaulding, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, 832-854-6641.
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In San Ramon, call David O’Reilly, CEO, 925-842-3232


11/21/06 NEWS!

Thanks to Burnt Orange Report:

A tentative agreement has been reached. Apparently, "Mayor White made many phone calls over the past several weeks behind the scenes."

We have reached a tentative agreement for a 3 year contract for janitors.

Wages: $1.15 increase the first year, $1.00 the second year, and $.50 the third year.

Health Care: The third year is when single payer health insurance will kick in and janitors will pay $20 per month into that plan. It is a plan designed and managed by SEIU and we are hoping to get all of our members nationwide on this plan.

Vacation: Two weeks paid vacation per year

Holidays: 6 paid Holidays

Hours: 1st year everyone must work a minimum of 4 hours a day, 2nd year everyone must work a minimum of 5 hours per day, 3rd year everyone must work a minimum of 6 hours per day.

Protection: We have a grievance procedure in place. We have protection for all of the striking workers to get their jobs back with no discipline, We have a disciplinary proceedure in place so that no one can be illegally fired for no reason any more.