Following Criticism of Dirty Schools, Chicago to Hire More Custodians

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) officials agreed last week to hire 200 more custodians for US$7 million to clean schools, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The decision was made two days before leaders with the custodians’ union, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1, had planned a strike vote.

Under conditions of the union’s new three-year contract with CPS, the additional janitors will be hired in the summer to deep clean the schools. Half of those custodians will remain once classes resume in the fall. CPS officials also agreed to meet quarterly with SEIU officials to discuss conditions of the schools.

CPS has come under criticism recently due to dirty conditions of many of its facilities. Of 125 schools examined in recent cleanliness inspections, 91 failed due to rodent infestations, unsanitary restrooms, and other problems.