USC Janitors Vote to Join Service Employees Union
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More than a year after their jobs were turned over to a private contractor, USC janitors have voted to join the Service Employees International Union.
Casting secret ballots in an election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board, custodial workers at USC’s main campus voted 107 to 79 Friday to make SEIU’s Local 1877 their official bargaining representative. At the USC / Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, a smaller unit of workers also approved joining the unit by a vote of 16 to 11.
Organizing efforts began soon after USC contracted with a large company, ServiceMaster, to clean classrooms and offices. The former USC employees retained their jobs and pay level but lost some benefits. Additionally, janitors say their workload has increased.
The vote was preceded by two walkouts and strained relations between ServiceMaster and union supporters, who contended that the company attempted to intimidate them.
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