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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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D.C. Janitors Take to the Streets "for Justice"

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Thursday, June 18, 2015   

ARLINGTON, Va. – Janitors plan to rally on the streets of Arlington during rush hour tomorrow, as contract talks start for more than 10,000 office cleaners in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore.

Virginia House Delegate Alfonso Lopez of Arlington will speak at the rally, commemorating the 25th anniversary of what is known as the Justice for Janitors movement. He says when it began, many of the workers made $5 an hour.

Lopez contends doubling their pay and winning union representation have been a victory, in his view, for them and for America.

"It's not just a win for working families, but employers, the economy and the public in general,” he insists. “What we're trying to do make sure we have a stable, reliable workforce that's being paid a livable wage."

Lopez says the fight for justice has been an important voice for many of the workers, not all of whom are native English-speakers.

"Service workers who also might have English as a second language, it might be even more difficult to stand up for individual rights and address grievances and wrongs," he says.

According to the Service Employees International Union, there are 11 contracts covering about 75,000 commercial cleaners on the East Coast coming up for discussion.

Lopez says one important issue for the janitors is that too many are only getting part-time hours, with lower pay and fewer benefits. Currently, a part-time commercial cleaner makes $10.60 an hour. Full-time janitors get 50 cents an hour more, and employer-paid health care.

He adds other employers have found that moving service workers to a livable wage has actually been good for their bottom line.

"I think you find you have a more reliable, more loyal and more effective workforce, as opposed to a workforce that is, in many cases, desperate," he states.

Some employers argue they can't afford to guarantee their cleaning staffs a full-time living wage and benefits. Union officials say the offices their members clean are part of Washington’s multi-billion-dollar real estate industry, which can well afford the contract terms.




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