The Service Employees International Union is appealing to Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the city inspector general to head off a $99 million bid from a company that union leaders accuse of undercutting competitors by planning to replace veteran custodians and window cleaners at O'Hare International Airport with cheaper labor — a move that could cost hundreds of workers their jobs.

According to Chicago Tribune reporting, the current contract for custodial services at O'Hare, with a company called Scrub Inc., expired June 30, and City Hall's decision on a new contract could come at any time. SEIU representatives comment that Mayor Emanuel holds the final decision on the matter.

SEIU said Scrub has been paying workers according to prevailing rates that begin at $12.05 an hour and top out at $15.45 an hour for those with five years or more of seniority.

City records show that Chicago-based United Maintenance Company Inc. underbid Scrub by more than $11 million for the new five-year contract and also came in below eight other bidders that are signatories to SEIU's master agreement with janitorial companies.

SEIU Local 1 President Tom Balanoff said he has met with the general counsel for United Maintenance and was told the company would hire its own workforce if it gets the contract, a move that would allow janitors with no union seniority to be hired at the bottom of the prevailing wage scale to do the work of current employees who are making more. He said that is enough for the city to declare the company is not a responsible bidder.

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