St. Louis Board of Aldermen passes resolution supporting $15 wage for 2,100 SEIU Local 1 janitors

Encourages business, civic leaders to support Ferguson Commission’s recommendation of at least $15 for working families

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen overwhelmingly passed a resolution Nov. 15 in support of a $15 wage for 2,100 SEIU Local 1 janitors who clean notable buildings like Wells Fargo, US Bank and Metropolitan Square.

Aldermen passed the resolution following a rally where SEIU Local 1 janitors, joined by Alderwomen Sharon Tyus (1st Ward), Christine Ingrassia (6th Ward), Sarah Martin (11 Ward), Alderman Bret Narayan (24th Ward) and Representative-elect Rasheen Aldridge (D-St. Louis), brought their fight for One St. Louis – with at least $15 and good union jobs for all – to City Hall.

Janitors, carrying their brooms and mops, highlighted how at least $15 and good union jobs for all would help working people build safer neighborhoods and stronger families while making the region more equitable across racial lines.

STRUGGLING WHILE CLEANING THE MOST EXPENSIVE BUILIDNGS IN ST. LOUIS
“We work hard cleaning the most expensive buildings in St. Louis, but janitors are struggling to make ends meet. That’s not right,” said SEIU Local 1 janitor Stephanie Patterson, who cleans the Wells Fargo Building for $10 an hour. “We need at least $15 to raise our families, and we’re happy to have the City’s support in our fight for a strong new contract and One St. Louis, a region that works for all.”

Following the event, the Board of Aldermen passed a resolution supporting janitors as they negotiate for a $15 wage in current ongoing contract negotiations.

A MESSAGE TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY
“Today, the Board of Aldermen sent a strong message to the business community that elected leaders support janitors as they come together for the $15 they need to put food on the table,” said Alderwoman Tyus. “Washington University, BJC HealthCare and more are already putting workers on a path to $15 – it’s time others do the same.”

Janitors kicked off the fight for One St. Louis Oct. 23 with a rally outside the Old Courthouse citing the Ferguson Commission’s recommendations to enact a $15 wage to give working people the opportunity to thrive.

Five years after the Ferguson protests, janitors are still coming together to demand the transformative change their communities need.