Thread: UNITE HERE workers to replace higher paid staff

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/busi ... 421808.htm


Fired custodians at Curtis Center demand jobs back

By Benjamin Y. Lowe
Inquirer Staff Writer

The union representing 31 custodial workers who were dismissed this week from their jobs at the Curtis Center in Center City says it will continue the fight to get its members back to work.

The custodial employees, some of whom had worked there more than 30 years, were fired Tuesday, after the building's new owner hired a new cleaning contractor.

"It's like Robin Hood in reverse, robbing the poor just so the rich can make a little bit more money," said James Murphy, business manager for Teamsters Local 4C, of Clifton Heights. Murphy said union members were paid from $9 to $13 an hour, and were replaced with employees who will be paid $8 an hour.

"We're living on whatever savings you have," said Dana Jones, 49, a resident of West Philadelphia and a 19-year employee at the Curtis Center. "The type of work we're doing, we don't have a mint. Some of us have small children."

Jones has a son in college and a daughter who is a senior in high school.

The federal government, including local offices for the Department of Labor and Department of Justice, is a major tenant of the Curtis Building, near Independence Hall at the intersection of Sixth and Walnut Streets.

The center, built in 1921 and renovated in 1987, has about 840,000 square feet on 12 floors. It is named for the Curtis Publishing Co., which owns the Saturday Evening Post, among other publications.

Curtis Publishing, of Indianapolis, moved out of the building more than three decades ago.

Dean Geis, the building's former manager and leasing agent, said the building is 80 percent leased. It sold for $94 million, said a spokeswoman for the new owner, Curtis Partners L.P.

The spokeswoman, Dana Lombardo, said the firm decided to change custodial staffs 45 days ago. She said the prior owner, Independence Square Venture L.P., was to inform the union. Independence Square couldn't be reached for comment.

"It's regrettable they didn't inform them," she said, adding that the new custodians are to be represented by UNITE HERE Local 10. The local could not be reached for comment.

Curtis Partners, of Conshohocken, threatened legal action in a letter to the union if it picketed anywhere besides an entrance reserved for the new custodial staff.

Teamsters Local 4C had an agreement with ABM Industries Inc., which lost the cleaning contract to another firm, Arthur Jackson Co., of Upper Darby. A receptionist at Arthur Jackson said the company had no comment.

Union members have picketed outside the building since Wednesday. Murphy, the local's business manager, said he and the union picketers plans to be back Tuesday morning.

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From the UNITE HERE website:

UNITE HERE boasts a diverse membership, comprised largely of immigrants and including high percentages of African-American, Latino, and Asian-American workers. The majority of UNITE HERE members are women.

UNITE and HERE always organized and represented some of the most harassed workers in North America—recent immigrants, African Americans, women and workers in the South.

And, in an irony surely not lost on those losing their jobs, UNITE HERE boasts:

UNITE HERE is a union of more than half a million working people and retirees in the United States and Canada who are working together for justice in the workplace and beyond. Together, we are building better jobs through organizing and collective bargaining. Union members have jobs that are safer, higher paying, and provide health care and pensions at a higher rate than their non-union counterparts.

http://www.unitehere.org/about/

Please pass the bucket!

I can (almost) bet the house that the replacements will be primarily illegals. Where is ICE when you need them.

It's like Robin Hood in reverse, robbing the poor just so the rich can make a little bit more money," said James Murphy, business manager for Teamsters Local 4C, of Clifton Heights. Murphy said union members were paid from $9 to $13 an hour, and were replaced with employees who will be paid $8 an hour.

Kind of kills the idea of doing a good job and getting raises because in these type jobs seems once you hit that 10-12 per hr. range.....you're gone.