Chicago Custodians Gain Pay Raises in New Contract

More than 10,000 Chicago-area custodians working for companies that contract cleaning services for downtown office buildings and the city’s surrounding suburbs agreed to a new three-year contract.

Representatives from Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which represents the workers, negotiated the new contact with the Buildings Owners and Managers Association of Chicago and contractors in the suburbs after the previous agreement expired April 9.

According to the Chicago Sun Times, the new deal will increase the custodians’ wages in Chicago by 6.3% over the lifetime of the deal, while suburban custodians will see an increase of 7.7%. The contract also calls for a freeze on the workers’ health insurance premiums and improved job recall rights.

“By coming together, we won good annual raises, health care protections, better job security and the stability our families need,” said Krsytyna Galik, Chicago-area custodian and member of SEIU’s executive board.