Remaining steadfast in their demands for improved health care plans and more full-time positions, 1,600 janitors maintained their picket lines outside 61 Boston buildings yesterday and will continue their strike until a satisfactory proposal is introduced, a union spokesperson said.
“The strike has been growing since Monday night and will continue to escalate,” said spokeswoman Sylvia Panfil. “The length is indefinite as of now.”
Talks between union representatives and negotiators for the Maintenance Contractors of New England ceased Tuesday without approaching an agreement satisfactory to either side.
“There was no change in the contractors’ stance as of [Tuesday],” Panfil said.
The union, Local 254 of the International Service Employees Union, demanded to see a proposition that addresses its concerns before agreeing to more discussion.
“We’ve been saying from the outset it’s about healthcare and providing full-time jobs to those who want them,” Panfil said. “When we see a proposal that addresses these janitors’ needs we’ll agree to reconvene talks. At the moment we haven’t seen one.”
A rally was planned for last night, at which lieutenant governor candidate Chris Gabrieli and a representative from the AFL-CIO were expected to address the janitors.
The union places much of the blame for inadequate health care coverage on Unicco Service Company, the largest of the 30 cleaning companies with whom the janitors have contracts.
“Unicco has been standing in the way of these janitors’ goals,” Panfil said.
Of the 10,700 unionized janitors, most are currently part-time workers and thus not eligible for benefits. The union wants health care coverage expanded to include the part-time employees.
This desire has been met with opposition from the contractors because of what they have described as its cost inefficiency.
“If we were to give comprehensive medical benefits to part-time employees, the cost would be prohibitive,” James Canavan, the lead negotiator for the Maintenance Contractors of New England members involved in the dispute, told the Boston Globe.
The janitors continued to receive support from both students and other unionized workers in the Boston area. Almost 1,000 workers refused to cross picket lines on Tuesday, stopping the progress of work at construction and other maintenance sites.
“We have received great amounts of support,” Panfil said. “Students have been supporting the cause through SLAP [Student Labor Action Project].”
Janitors of Union Local 254 declared their intention to strike indefinitely on Sunday night, after becoming convinced that Unicco would not otherwise meet their demands for improved healthcare plans.