Houston Janitors union goes on strike and win a new contract but...

http://www.chron.com/business/article/Janitors-in-Houston-win-raise-in-tentative-3774202.php

25 cents per hour raise?

They couldn't do better than that?

I worked as a Janitor in 1990 from 10pm to 6am, when the Houston Real Estate Market crashed and we weren't making any money selling real estate, which was commission only.

It's not a job I would wish on my worst enemy.

These folks are members of an union and all they got is 25 cents per hour raise each year for the next 4 years?

Quote :

We made progress here in Houston, and the janitors' victory brings hope to security officers, airport workers and others trapped by poverty wages," Tom Balanoff, president of Service Employees International Union, Local 1 in Chicago, which represents the 3,200 Houston janitors, said in a statement. "Our economy is broken, and unless we do something to turn low-wage jobs into good jobs, the middle class will be the great disappearing act of the 21st century."

Most of the janitors who went on strike July 10 earn a top wage of $8.35 an hour.

I am sorry to say this but $8.35 per hr plus .25 cents = $8.60 per hr which is still poverty wages.

I bet they don't even get full time so they don't have to get benefits like insurance and vacation time and sick days so if you are sick and you don't go to work, you lose a day pay.

Quote :

Under the terms of the proposed deal, the janitors would earn a top wage of $9.35 an hour in 2016.

By 2016, everything is going to cost more at the rate prices are climbing: food, utilities, auto insurance, rent, gasoline.

Wages have not been keeping up with the cost of living and inflation.

They could be making $12 per hour now and they will still be living from paycheck to paycheck.

I guess the saddest thing of all is they had to go on strike for that.

Then they have to make up the month without wages and that cuts into the 25 cents too.

Does anyone in Union Management make any money off this?

Union Managers, Leaders or their Blood Sucking Attorneys?

I don't know how a Union works but I bet someone high up benefited from these poor folks getting a new contract and from these poor folks going on strike.

What's the minimum wage in the US?

Largo's Shark wrote:

What's the minimum wage in the US?

Right now?

$7.25 nationwide but there are certain states that have their own minimum wage on top of the national rate.

If employers had their way it would only be a penny.

Looks like the state of Washington would be the best place to find work, with a min. wage of $9.00/hour.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._minimum_wages