The workers cleaning WeWork’s offices tell the story of their campaign for good jobs and fair wages through street theater
New York – June 25, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Stilt-walkers, balloons and drama will be on full display in Downtown Manhattan on Wednesday as the WeWork cleaners tell the story of their fight for good jobs, fair pay and respect.
WHO: Janitors who clean offices at WeWork sites across the city; street theater actors
WHAT: How to Clean Your Unicorn: The fantastical story of the Cleaners Who Stood Up for Justice
WHEN: TODAY, Wednesday, June 24 at 4:30 pm
WHERE: Raging Bull Statue at Bowling Green in Manhattan
WHY: In swanky offices like 222 Broadway and 540 West 40th Street — where other renters and owners hire cleaning contractors whose cleaners make more than $23 an hour with full family health care and retirement benefits– WeWork has hired a cleaning contractor that pays its workers $11 an hour and no benefits. The workers are fighting back and telling WeWork they won’t be invisible because “We Work Here Too.”
The cleaners started a campaign for better conditions but in a recent meeting with cleaning contractor Commercial Building Maintenance Corp. (CBM), a WeWork executive said more than 100 cleaners at the coworking start-up’s New York City offices should all be fired for organizing a union.
The executive’s comments are not only heartless and unfair, they also violate federal labor law. The National Labor Relations Board, a federal agency, is currently investigating this incident.
With more than 145,000 members including 70,000 in New York City, 32BJ is the largest property service workers union in the country.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Rachel Cohen, 917-370-8464 rcohen @seiu32bj.org
