July 27th 2024.
Over the weekend, a major strike was avoided in Denver as a group of more than 2,400 janitors and cleaning companies reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. This exciting development was announced by the Service Employees International Union Local 105, who reported that the new contract will include significant wage increases, important protections against excessive workloads, and guaranteed paid sick leave. Once the contract is officially ratified, janitors in Denver will be among the highest paid in the nation.
Prior to this agreement, union members had unanimously voted to authorize a strike if negotiations with the 17 cleaning contractors did not result in satisfactory terms. The main goals of the union were to secure a livable wage and address concerns about workload, as union president Stephanie Felix-Sowy explained, "Workload meaning additional workload being placed on our members while hours are being cut oftentimes."
Although the union represents around 2,400 janitors across 1,500 buildings in Denver, the exact number of members who voted on the strike was not disclosed. However, the agreement was reached just in time, one day before the July 28 deadline when the strike would have taken effect.
In related news, Denver has been experiencing a surge in new apartment construction, but renters are quickly snatching them up. In other business news, the challenges of teaching artificial intelligence to solve math problems have been highlighted. And on a lighter note, one tech-savvy individual has become a sensation on TikTok for his entertaining and informative videos.
Meanwhile, a recent poll revealed that 89% of Coloradans are concerned about the state's housing affordability crisis. This issue was also on the minds of the janitors who stood together and fought hard for their new contract, as Denver janitor Verónica Escobedo stated, "Janitors across the Denver metro stood together and fought hard for this. This contract will put us on a path to livable wages and raises the bar for our industry across the country... This is a massive victory."
It's worth noting that the 2,400 janitors represented by SEIU are all under one "master contract" that is negotiated between them and their employers. John Nesse, who represented the employers in the negotiations, expressed his satisfaction with the agreement, saying, "The DMCA employers... are pleased to have reached a mutual agreement with the union so that all parties can continue their focus on providing the highest level of service to our clients."
The final step in this process will be for janitors to vote on ratifying the new contract next week. Stay updated on all the latest business news by signing up for our Economy Now newsletter. Thank you to Denver Post reporter Judith Kohler for her contribution to this report.
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