Inflation and lack of pandemic pay leaves cleaners ready to drop mops
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Four-thousand unionized janitors in the Toronto area have set a strike vote for Saturday because of what they call a lack of progress in securing wage increases in contract talks.
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“We’ve all been experiencing first-hand the steep rise in the cost of living: housing, groceries, transportation, gas, everything,” said Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2, which represents some 4000 workers whose contract sets an industry-standard in the GTA.
“At our current wages, even basic needs are getting out of reach.”
With inflation clocking in at 6.7% — and possibly heading higher — its members say they have felt left behind after being considered essential workers during the depths of the pandemic.
The union said while the top wage is $16.45 an hour, most earn $15.70 an hour, with premiums for overnight shifts.
The janitors clean — among other places — health-care facilities, public transportation systems, courthouses, morgues, parcel delivery buildings, police stations, commercial offices, and shopping malls.
“Inflation has caused everything to go up,” says Olga da Cruz, who works for Hallmark Housekeeping Services and has been cleaning in the heart of the financial district for close to a decade.
“Groceries, fish, meat, rent, gas, clothing, school supplies, everything!”
“Not only did we not get any pandemic pay,” says Mark Dayao, who works for Best Service Pros at Humber College. “Our workloads also increased as deeper cleaning was required.”
The union maintains it has been working hard to get a fair contract from the cleaning companies.