Negotiators Pressing to Resolve Strike by Janitors

As trash piled up in some offices, and another procession of red-shirted strikers filed through downtown Los Angeles, momentum appeared to be building toward a resolution to the week-old janitors strike.

Although neither side in the contract dispute had officially changed its position as of Monday night, a series of intense closed-door talks were held among building owners, political leaders and union officials over the weekend.

Several sources said the talks were fruitful and they expected a breakthrough within the next two days.

Janitors, who earn $6.80 to $7.90 per hour with health benefits, are seeking a $1 per hour raise for each of the next three years. The janitorial firms involved in the Los Angeles master contract have offered 80 cents to $1.30 over the same period.

The contractors, which range from large national corporations to smaller local firms, were not involved in the weekend talks.

The Service Employees International Union, which represents about 8,500 janitors in Los Angeles, has sought to deal directly with the building owners and managers who buy the janitorial services.

Although the trade organization representing building owners continues to insist that it is not a party to the negotiations, a number of prominent commercial real estate developers--prodded by numerous political and religious leaders--have been speaking privately with the union.

Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, who presided over a Mass for janitors at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church on Olvera Street, said he called building owners over the weekend and was “optimistic” that an agreement could be worked out today.

Several contractors, however, said they were not aware of any change on the part of building owners.

“Everyone on the client side has been supportive” of the contractors’ final offer, said Dick Dotts, a spokesman for the janitorial service DMS. He added, however, that building owners could move the negotiations. “I have to take my cues from the people who pay the bills,” he said. “We’re all part of a business process. The tenant is the ultimate consumer of a space. It’s all in their lease rate.”

Mike Garcia, president of SEIU Local 1877, which represents the janitors, said the union was also willing to bend. “At the end of the day, I’m sure there will be some movement, but that needs to be worked through the bargaining committee,” he said. “I do think we’re going to end up closer to where we’re at than where they’re at.”

Monday afternoon, strikers traded their picket signs for white carnations and filed in a peaceful, blocks-long procession, led by two children of janitors and followed closely by Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles).

The marchers, numbering about 1,000, walked from Arco Plaza to Our Lady Queen of Angels Church. There, they were greeted by Cardinal Mahony and Mayor Richard Riordan. Riordan, Villaraigosa and Mahony were all involved in the weekend discussions.

Riordan and Mahony both said $1 an hour isn’t enough. “To me, what they’re asking for is not a wage that would allow one to live independently,” Riordan said. “It’s not even close. I think you need $10 and benefits.”

Mahony said the janitors have “made visible in our city an invisible problem,” referring to poor residents left out of the economic boom.

Several marchers said they were exhausted after a week of protests and picketing, and some said they were not sure they could last much longer than another week without pay. Manuel Bautista, who works at the TransAmerica building on Broadway, said most have savings that can last only two weeks. “The next paycheck is the one we use to pay bills,” he said. “I don’t know if we can stay out much longer.”

But Sylvia Juarez, who cleans at California Plaza, said she planned to stay out until contractors moved closer to janitors’ demands. “The money is important,” she said, “but it’s more important to win this fight. This is the one time we have their attention.”

At Arco Plaza, where the janitors began their 2 p.m. procession, several tenants said they sympathized with the janitors. “I understand completely where they’re coming from,” said a banker who declined to give his name. “I think they’re underpaid.”

Bill Finlan, a word processor working on the 43rd floor of the Arco Plaza tower, said he, and most co-workers, supported the janitors’ demands. “They’re taking care of people who make millions,” he said. “What’s another dollar?”

Contractors said basic cleaning needs are being met by supervisors and replacement workers, and that they were able to cover a lot of lost ground over the weekend. However, if the strike extends for several more weeks, clients could see a deterioration, Dotts said.

Even now, at the lower retail area of Arco Plaza, trash cans in public restrooms are overflowing, and supplies such as toilet paper and soap were lacking Monday. Several tenants said their offices are also not as clean as usual.

“Today we noticed a smell in the copy room,” said Sandra Juarez, an executive secretary on the 42nd floor. “I had to go in there with a can of Lysol. That never happened when we had our regular janitors.”

Support also appeared to be building in the community, as shown by a number of non-janitors marching in Monday’s procession.

“We’ve been successful in reaching out,” said Eliseo Medina, a vice president for the SEIU international. “People are seeing it’s not just about janitors. Los Angeles is becoming the city of haves and have-nots, and I think people understand that and are very supportive.”