LOS ANGELES – Janitors are launching unfair labor practice strikes in strategic locations across Los Angeles County today after contract negotiations broke down early this morning. Janitors cleaning some of the most expensive commercial office property in the country are earning some of the lowest wages in the country among unionized janitors.

“Enough is enough, we are standing up for our rights and for all working people,” said Rosa Ayala, a janitor on the bargaining committee. “The decision to go on strike is not easy, but we are ready to do whatever it takes to win justice.”

IRRESPONSIBLE CLEANING CONTRACTORS
Irresponsible cleaning contractors have illegally tried to silence janitors who are standing up for justice, according to charges that the janitors’ union is preparing to file with the federal labor board against Able, ABM, One Source, DMS and others for intimidating, interrogating, harassing, threatening and retaliating against workers.

STRIKE AUTHORIZATION VOTE LA, OC COUNTIES
Los Angeles janitors are set to conduct a strike authorization vote today. The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor’s executive board voted unanimously to approve a strike sanction to honor janitor picket lines and has urged the county’s 350 labor unions, representing 800,000 union members to support justice for janitors by not crossing the picket lines.

On Monday, the Orange County Labor Federation representing 80 labor unions and 140,000 union members throughout Orange County announced sanction and support for the janitors strike.