The Down and Dirty on Cleaning in Virus Season
Industry Report Reveals Burnout Prevalence Among Cleaning Professionals
How Surfactant Use is Expanding in Commercial Cleaning
Clean Buildings Conference
The 2012 contract to clean Chicago's O'Hare International Airport was for $99.4 million, but has since grown by nearly $8 million, according to an article on the CBS Chicago website.
“United Maintenance came in and underbid the contract right off the start to get the work. … And then they turned back on the city and said, ‘Okay, now we got the work — give us more money,’” says Tom Balanoff, president of SEIU Local 1, the labor union that once represented O’Hare’s janitors.
A spokesperson for United Maintenance claims that the cost increases are due to the costs of materials and local prevailing wage.
But, United Maintenance was also cited in a 2015 federal lawsuit filed by some O’Hare janitors, which accused the firm of wage theft. The company settled the lawsuit last fall for $850,000 but admitted no wrongdoing.
The city said, despite the cost increases, the contract is still a good deal.
For the full article, click here.