Houston contract janitors reach tentative agreement in salary negotiations for pay raise, better benefits – Houston Public Media

After nearly two months of salary negotiations, Houston’s contract janitors have reached a tentative agreement with the city’s private janitorial companies that will offer them higher wages and better benefits.

SEIU Texas — which represents about 2,500 to 3,000 Houston-area janitors — has pushed for years for a $15 hourly minimum wage, as well as increased sick days, paid leave and hours per shift.

The union’s current collective agreement expires Friday. However, according to SEIU Texas President Elsa Flores, a tentative agreement was reached Thursday evening that includes “significant improvements” in wages and shift hours while giving “more voice to workers.”

“We probably have the best contract we’ve ever had since we brought janitors to Houston,” Flores said. “We are extremely proud of what the members were willing to do to get to this point. »

Flores was unable to provide details of the agreement Friday. She said details would be available once union members finalize the tentative agreement in a vote Saturday.

If the agreement is approved, the contract will take effect immediately. Flores acknowledged that there is a small chance that union members will reject the deal, which would send the union’s bargaining team back into negotiations or even trigger the start of a possible strike. However, she is confident that the agreement in principle meets their main priorities.

Negotiations began in April and had apparently been at a standstill for weeks. The union was prepared to strike if negotiations failed – a tactic it had already threatened during contract negotiations in 2022. However, Flores remained hopeful, and about a day before the contract expired, the agreement was reached. finally concluded.

The precedent of a $15 minimum wage has already been set here in Houston after the City Council increased the minimum wage for all city employees – including janitors – to $15 an hour in 2021. Despite this, the union was unable to obtain the desired salary. bump in 2022.

Two years later, that could finally change.

“Many of them now have to do not two tasks, but actually three tasks. It doesn’t allow them to spend time with their family or their children,” Flores said. “Workers, especially black and brown women, must have decent, decent wages. »