On my walk back to the office from lunch, my co-workers and I were stopped by this really large protest. It even blocked traffic coming from off the freeway – sorry Los Angeles drivers and bus transit riders. It turned out to be a protest for Justice for Janitors, emphasizing more affordable healthcare and fairer wages.
A protest like this gives reason to pause and more than just for the inconvenience of traffic. A few minutes of protest is nothing compared to where we would be without our janitorial services. Why do we then pay people who work this difficult job poorly? Why do we then shrink on their healthcare? Try going a week in this city without the people who help maintain the offices of government and corporate America. It would be pretty darn terrible for everyone all around.
The janitorial staff at my building are some of my favorite people. They don’t seem to judge me when I work late at night (sometimes when I’m singing aloud to whatever I have playing on Pandora) and always say hello and ask me how I am as they go about their jobs after office hours. There is a janitor that maintains the glass doors and reception area of the building during the morning, who I see almost every day. When I arrive really early to work, he comments on my change in routine. While I may not be working on projects with this staff and while there might not even be a sharing of our names, I really appreciate their presence in my life and what they do. This place would fall apart without their efforts, as I’m sure all the other buildings would too.
People who think they run the world because they make business decisions are wrong. That’s only part of the process. There are other people who keep this world running too, and one of them is likely the person that pulls in a squeaky-wheeled trash can to sort out your office recyclables.
-cct
Thank you for your taking the time to share this with your friends and family, as well as complete strangers. There comes a time when we must pause from our daily routine and look up and see the world around us and how others are interacting in it. Janitors successfully won their contract this past May 1st, but the battle rages in places like San Diego, where companies like HP refuse to give their workers health care or a modest wage increase.
This past Friday I was in SD making preparations for a hunger strike janitors are about to embark upon (their contract expires in 2 weeks) when I met a married couple who have a combined 48 years working at the company; and they’ve never had medical coverage provided by HP. They’ve raised 3 wonderful kids and they’re making $8.45 an hour before taxes.
Corporate America should be ashamed of themselves. And as is often the case, those of us who are able to do something about any injustice and choose not to get involved are just as guilty. In your own capacity, you’ve managed to help janitors by sharing your views and recognizing their sacrifice — and that speaks volumes to your character.
Thank you once again.
M.