New contract

This past weekend, SEIU Texas — which represents over 3,000 custodians working for contract cleaning companies — secured a new contract for full and part-time workers. As reported by Fox 26 Houston, the details of the contract include an increase to $15 hourly wages for full-time janitors, and a minimum of $14.10 for part-time by the end of the new four-year deal.

The deal represents the single-highest pay increase in the history of SEIU Texas. Other notable details in the contract include a higher guaranteed minimum of hours for workers. On the previous deal, only 30 percent of the custodians represented were guaranteed at least 25 hours of week per week. Under the new framework, that figure jumps up to 70 percent. In addition, workers were able to secure an additional floating holiday each year. 

Representatives for SEIU were pleased with the outcome, noting it will help custodians better provide for the families and give them the opportunities and flexibility they deserve. The ratification of the new contract comes after several months of Houston frontline workers protesting in the streets for improved work conditions. The new deal also ended the possibility of a strike — which was planned to go into place on May 31 if a new deal wasn’t agreed upon. 

Read more on the implications of the new deal here.