After 24 days of picketing and demonstrating throughout Boston, the Service Employees International Union 254, which represents the janitors of Boston, reached a contract agreement that will increase their health benefits and wages over the next five years.
As of last Wednesday, an agreement was reached by both the head employees of Consolidated Cleaning Services, UNICCO and SEIU 254 led by Rocio Saenz.
Vice President of Consolidated Cleaning Services Tom Bond spoke on Tuesday and Wednesday with Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. Bond said that though the union has to look at the agreement a little more thoroughly, it is expected that the deal will be finalized sometime early next week.
“I think it’s pretty well done,” Bond said. “The union has to look to see if any ratification’s need to be made, but I think both parties are happy with the outcome.”
Under the new deal which will be in focus over the next five years and will be implemented in January, wages and health care benefits will be offered to over 1,000 part-time workers.
Part-time and full-time workers will also see a substantial increase in their salaries. Over the next five years, part-time workers, currently making $9.95 an hour, will see their wages increased to $12.95 by 2007. Full-time employees will see their wages go up from $10.20 to $13.15 over the next five years.
“If you add the 30.6 percent for the part-time workers plus what the five year employees will receive, it pushes it up even further,” Bond said.
Most part-time employees will have health benefits extended to them as well as paid vacation time and two sick days.
Bond also said that Northeastern President Richard Freeland was a main stay in the negotiations.
“I spoke to President Freeland a couple of times and he made it known his position,” he said. “He wanted something to be done soon and he wanted it to be a fair situation for all employees.”
Several members of SEIU 254, which Bond said will most likely still increase their dues by 20 percent in the next three years, were a big part of three major rallies at Northeastern and all around Boston. The participants at the rally were searching for better benefits for them and their families.
“They were seeking a fair deal and I think both sides wanted to get something done,” Bond said. “The economy is such that reaching a deal was hard, but in the end we finally got it done. We really couldn’t afford part-time insurance.”
Bond said Mayor Menino knew of the negotiations as of Sunday, Oct. 20 and by Monday, had set up a time to meet the next day. According to Bond, Menino and his staff set a deadline of 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
“I think they said, ‘look, you guys are close to making a deal, let’s get it done,'” Bond said. “(Menino) called for it. He knew we were putting a lot of hours into making a deal. He stepped right in on Tuesday and was a big person in these negotiations.”
Many of the janitors returned to work Monday and more still will be coming back, Bond said.
