Denver janitors, union members, march through streets for better wages, benefits

In lieu of contract negotiations with cleaning companies, hundreds of metro Denver janitors on Monday marched and rallied at Union Station not only to honor the annual Justice for Janitors day, but to emphasize the need for janitors in the mayor’s effort to revitalize downtown.
“If we want to build a thriving downtown, our voices must be a part of that plan,” said Maria Hernandez, a janitor for the last 39 years in Denver.
It “starts with livable wages, fair workloads, safe workplaces, and respect from cleaning company executives ... we're fighting for our new contract," Hernandez said. "So far talks have been productive.”
While chanting with trumpets and drums, hundreds of janitors, including elected officials, marched from Union Station to 19th Street, around Arapahoe Street and back to the train station along 17th Street on Monday.
Monday marked Justice for Janitors day, a day that Denver has observed for 30 years. Monday also marked the first day when Metro Denver janitors can start contract negotiations with cleaning companies.
Over 2,400 janitors, 90% of whom are Latina immigrant women, work in Metro Denver, according to the Service Employees International Union Local 105, who hosted Monday’s rally in front of Union Station.
SEIU Local 105, made up of two million members across the nation, serves 8,000 janitors, healthcare, airport and security workers in Colorado.
Stephanie Felix-Sowy, President of SEIU Local 105, said “this is an industry such as other industries, domestic worker, industry, home care worker industry, janitorial, or airport workers, where if you have a high proportion of women, women of color, that you know, it is an industry that many times folks take advantage of these workers.”
One of the marchers on Monday was District 7 Councilmember Flor Alvidrez.
"When we talk about revitalizing downtown, we have to talk about the people who keep it clean," Councilmember Flor Alvidrez, who marched with her son, Alex, told The Denver Gazette while marching.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has made revitalizing downtown Denver a focus in his administration, committing $58 million this year to do so.
Felix-Sowy noted janitors as an integral part to that plan.
“These are the folks that are going to continue to do what they've always done: Keep downtown clean, keep these buildings clean … they show up every day,” Felix-Sowy said.
Denver Clerk & Recorder Paul López, at the rally on Monday, emphasized job security for janitor’s renewing their contracts with cleaning companies.
He said his father, who retired as a janitor, for a long time didn’t have access to a contract and was fired from time to time because of it.
“So when you talk about, you know what a contract means, it’s not just pay, it’s not just healthcare, it's also respect on the job,” López told The Denver Gazette.
“It's also knowing that they have job stability," he added. "So as long as they're putting in an honest day's work, they're gonna get treated with honesty and respect and a contract that says it's a guarantee.”