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SEIU Local 1 janitors who’ve cleaned the Cuyahoga County Public Library during the pandemic urged the library’s board to save their jobs outside the Parma-Snow Branch Cuyahoga County Public Library in Parma, Ohio ahead of its monthly board meeting. 

With the support from State Senator from the 21st District, Sandra Williams, State Senator from the 23th District, Nickie Antonio, and State Senator from the 25th District, Kenny Yuko, the janitors are raising their voice to ensure they can keep their jobs, as many of them are living with disabilities across Cuyahoga County. 

Their good union jobs prevent them from being exploited and empowers them to advocate for one another with good wages and benefits to support their families, according to SEIU Local 1.

“For the last two years, I have been cleaning the Garfield Library, ensuring the public is clean and healthy.” said Local 1 janitor, Daniel Davis, “Local 1 janitors like me did not get the opportunity to work from home; Instead, we showed up to work and never left. My coworkers and I urge the CCPL and its Board to do the right thing and keep the good union jobs of nearly 100 Local 1 janitors.”

On May 20, Local 1 janitors received the support of Congressional Candidate for the 11th District, Nina Turner. Local 1 janitors live predominantly in the Black and Brown communities hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, as they are key to our region’s economic recovery. Without protection from the CCPL Board, Local 1 dedicated janitors’ last day on the job will be June 12.