Janitors reach a new deal

Orange County janitors voted in overwhelming favor of adopting a contract negotiated by union representatives and janitorial contractors Saturday, ending the possibility of a strike and locking in what negotiators called a “great deal” for the industry.

Now, 2,000 county janitors will receive a $3.50-an-hour increase over a period of four years, dental insurance, and three more sick days and two paid holidays, organizers said. Janitors will see an immediate raise from $8.65 to $8.95 an hour.

“It makes us feel happy and confident that we’re doing a good job for these companies,” organizer Sylvia Hernandez said. “They respect us; they are saying, ‘you’re valuable to our economy,’ and that means a lot.”

Dick Davis, the head negotiator on behalf of local janitorial contractors, said he thought the deal was fair for both parties.

“There were wage and benefit improvements, and there was language improvements that our clients received,” he said, declining to elaborate.

The approval comes a week after marches in local commercial zones like Fashion Island and South Coast Plaza, where janitors marched with drums and chanted “Huelga,” Spanish for “strike.” Union representatives never revealed a planned date for a walkout, though they indicated the date was “imminent.”

Janitors in Orange and Los Angeles counties will be now governed under a single contract — a move that organizers hope will strengthen their leverage and provide even greater benefits to their members.

Santa Ana resident and janitor Isabel Procopio helped organize the many rallies that accentuated the contentious negotiations and said she was pleased with the fruits of her labor.

“The dental benefits are what my family needs the most,” she said through a translator. “I know we are in a recession, but we were able to accomplish something great.”

CHRIS CAESAR may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or at [email protected].