Rally at American University Library, 4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW

CONTACT: Julie Karant: jkarant@seiu32bj.org; 646-584-9001

Aramark Cleaners at American University Ratify New Contract with Historic Wage Increases Following Support by Hundreds of Students and Faculty

Lowest-Paid Workers Will See Wages Increase by Over 30%

Washington, D.C. – On Friday, 32BJ SEIU and Aramark-employed cleaners at American University ratified a contract covering 120 workers that provides a total of $6.00 in hourly wage increases over the course of the 5-year contract, amounting to an over 30% increase for the lowest-paid workers. Under the contract, which was set to expire on September 30, workers will also receive increased employer contributions to both their health care and 401K. Workers, some of whom have cleaned University dorms, libraries and faculty offices for as long as 35 years were boosted by the support of hundreds of students and faculty who held walkouts, protests, and marches on the University President.  

“I feel very happy that we got an historic contract with significant wages that we’ve never won before,” said Isaac Moreno, a single father of an adopted 14-year-old son, with a very long and expensive commute to Waldorf, MD. “I will be able to pay rent, do more things with my son, pay for food, gas, and my phone so I don’t have to go without it like I did during the pandemic. I am proud of my work and I do it with a lot of love for the students.” During the pandemic, Moreno was laid off for 10 months and fell deep into debt, getting his phone shut off and was unable to help his son join a soccer academy. He also supports his grandparents so they can keep the lights and water on and have food to eat.

By the end of the five-year contract, the lowest paid workers will see their wages increase from $19.37 to $25.37 while the highest paid will see wages increase from $21.67 to $27.67.

Among the workers covered by the new contract is Carla Argueta, a 64-year-old single mother who’s been cleaning the library for 35 years. During the pandemic, she was out of work sick for three weeks with a high fever, body aches, and severe bronchitis that left fearing for her life after two of her coworkers died of COVID. Missing so much work left her struggling to pay rent and support her son on her own. She struggled to buy food and got deep in credit card debt, living week-to-week, only able to buy a little bit of food to get by at a time. 

With 180,000 members in 11 states, including 21,000 in the D.C. Metropolitan Area and Baltimore, MD, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service workers union in the country.

# # #