The union representing 8,000 essential workers across the Twin Cities has set a March 4 strike date after months of bargaining has failed to secure new contracts.
Workers with Service Employees International Union Local 26 are demanding better salaries, retirement benefits, and improved working conditions. Local 26 represents more than 8,000 janitors, security officers, big-box retail cleaners and airport workers in Minnesota.
The union has been bargaining with at least a dozen companies over the past few months, according to Brahim Kone, Local 26 secretary-treasurer.
“We’ve seen some progress, but still aren’t close to wages or retirement [benefits] that our members need,” Brahim said.
According to the union’s website, workers are demanding wage increases of up to $5 per hour.
During Monday morning’s announcement, janitorial workers and security guards spoke out in support of new contracts.
Neli Macias, a janitorial worker of almost 20 years, said she works multiple jobs. Last week she was in a car accident on the way to work and feared for her family’s future.
“That fraction of a second on my mind was my kids,” Macias said. “Who’s gonna take care of them if I need to stop working?”
Macias said she doesn’t have any savings or retirement to fall back on, so time out of work would create a severe financial hardship for her family.
Local 26’s announcement comes days after SEIU Healthcare Minnesota announced 1,000 nursing home workers would go on strike on March 5.
March 2 is the deadline multiple unions and community organizations set back in October for new contracts for their workers.
Many unions and groups have voted to authorize worker strikes within the last month including St. Paul teachers, Minneapolis Public Works employees, and condo workers in Minneapolis.
Not all unions have set dates for strikes.
Brahim said coordinated labor stoppage next week could cause disruptions across the Twin Cities.
“So those 4,000 janitors are not going to work obviously, and we have 2,000 security officers, meaning as well no work for them. And our retail division, who clean Target stores and Best Buy stores, we also will not go to work,” Brahim said.
Local 26 leaders said they’re hoping to reach a settlement with multiple employers this week but are prepared to strike if they see no progress in negotiations. Union members have not yet decided how long the strike would last, Brahim said.
