Further negotiations may be more difficult. If the economy slips into recession, the industry will again see cutting janitors' paychecks as an easy way to shore up its bottom line. To build a union that can defend and expand on the gains won in 2000, SEIU janitors will step up efforts to unite with their counterparts in cities where workers currently have no voice. Most janitors in the United States do not belong to SEIU or any union. The booming new business hubs of the U.S. South, like Atlanta and Charlotte, are entirely non-union and janitors there usually can't hope to be paid very much above the minimum wage.
Benefits are rare.
With the goal of building a stronger union, SEIU negotiated provisions in some contracts that will make it easier for non-union janitors to join the union. They won commitments from contractors that the companies will not interfere when non-union janitors want to join the union. Still, it will require a massive effort to make headway in the many non-union markets. But the Justice for Janitors campaign has demonstrated over the years that it can overcome tremendous obstacles. Carter Wright is a communications specialist in the SEIU organizing department.