Downtown Cleveland

On Thursday, Feb. 29 in downtown Cleveland, dozens of SEIU Local 1 janitors, labor allies and community members rallied outside Downtown Cleveland, Inc. (DCI) ahead of contract negotiations that will impact hundreds of janitors throughout Cleveland. The Master contract primarily covers downtown Cleveland sites and other commercial office buildings throughout Cuyahoga County, the Steel Mill and the Cuyahoga Community College. 

The Master contract is a multi-employer contract covering all of Downtown Cleveland and surrounding areas. SEIU Local 1 bargains directly with employers who are hired by the buildings. DCI’s leadership primarily comprises downtown stakeholders, including elected officials, community partners, and representatives from Cleveland’s largest building owners who hire the contractors that Local 1 will negotiate with. The contract will expire April 30, 2024.

SEIU Local 1 janitors who keep downtown Cleveland clean, sanitized and safe for the community seek higher wages, better benefits and strong contract language that extends union rights to more working people. It is no secret that the cost of living is going up — especially food and housing — so wages of essential janitors must keep up with inflation. Additionally, janitors are fighting to protect their pensions, have affordable and accessible healthcare, paid sick days and are working to establish a training fund that would invest in working people and the future of the industry. Raising the overall labor standards for janitors will raise the working & living standards for all those across the region — an investment in janitors is an investment in our city. 

SEIU Local 1 janitors throughout Cleveland who keep our commercial office buildings, educational institutions and other properties vital to our community clean and safe, are ready to do what is necessary to bargain a strong new contract,” said SEIU Local 1 Vice President and Ohio Director Yanela Sims. “Local 1 janitors, many of whom are women and primarily Black and brown, risked their own health and safety throughout the pandemic to keep our community safe. Families shouldn’t have to struggle to meet basic needs, but this struggle is an unfortunate reality for many Cleveland janitors.”

“Over the years, I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformation of downtown into what it is today, but more often than not, we as janitors, invisible workers, get the short end of the stick,” says SEIU Local 1 janitor at Flats East Bank Terry Eddy. “Like much of downtown, the building I work in is receiving tax breaks. We aren’t against development — we just want to make sure that we aren’t being left behind. If downtown is getting all these subsidies, there is no reason we should have to live paycheck to paycheck. We work hard and all we are asking for is a comfortable and normal life just like a person in a suit.”

“It doesn’t matter what your business or building is – if people come to your place of work and it isn’t clean, they’re not coming back,” says SEIU Local 1 janitor at Tri-C West Jenita McDonall. “We janitors are on our feet all day taking out trash, mopping floors, cleaning surfaces – we are making sure everything is sanitized and safe. I invite any one of these executive and business leaders to come do what we do and see firsthand the workload we carry. We deserve a fair contract.”