Davie, FL– Nova University subcontracted janitors and groundskeepers will rally for good jobs on Wednesday, April 6 at 4pm. Nearly 200 workers—member of 32BJ SEIU—are negotiating a contract with the University’s contractors TCB, PBS, Excel, and Green Source II. The women and men who clean and maintain all the Nova campuses and extensive grounds will rally on Wednesday for a fair contract that allows them to be part of the middle class.
What: Janitors & groundskeepers at Nova University rally for good jobs.
Who: Reverend Gail Tapscott, janitors & groundskeepers, faith leaders and other community allies.
When: Wednesday, April 6, 4pm
Where: NE corner of SW 36th Street and University Drive, Davie, Florida
Background:
Negotiations for a new union contract covering more than 200 janitors, cleaners, and landscapers began in March between 32BJ SEIU and Nova’s contractors, TCB, PBS, Excel, and Green Source II.
Under the current contract members earn an average of $10.75 an hour and have no dental or vision care. They do some of the dirtiest and back breaking jobs, including cleaning the morgue at the Health Professions Division Building and maintaining the campus’ extensive grounds in the hot Florida sun. Despite their important contributions to keeping the University’s campuses clean and safe, the contractors have offered only a 68 cent raise over the course of three years to the workers.
Most members live and work in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, where Nova campuses are located, and where housing costs and income inequality are some of the highest in the nation. According to a 2015 Harvard study, 35% percent of residents pay at least half their income in rent.
Meanwhile Nova University—the largest private non-profit university in the country—earned $43.4 million in profits in 2015. As an anchor institution, the university should be creating good jobs that raise standards in the community.
The members and community supporters will rally for a fair contract to ensure that the men and women who keep Nova safe, clean, and beautiful can support their families.
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With more than 145,000 members in nine states, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service worker’s union in the country.