American Dream janitors describe labor abuses, hours cuts; union leaders seek county support

Workers who clean the American Dream shopping complex told commissioners Wednesday that contractor practices have reduced hours and suppressed worker complaints, and they asked county elected officials to note their ongoing dispute.

"Our strike protested that illegal gag orders Puro Global forced on us that stop us from filing complaints with the National Labor Relations Board," said Sebastian Ramirez, who identified himself as a cleaner at the American Dream and summarized a recent two‑day strike involving more than 76 workers. Ramirez said the employer cut some workers’ hours from 40 to about 30 hours per week; the hours reductions, he said, represented roughly $8,840 annually for affected employees.

Anna Maria Hill, state director and vice president of SEIU 32BJ, said the union represents about 80 janitors at the mall and outlined a multi‑year campaign including strikes, labor board filings and federal court actions. "Under two contractors the union has won in labor board and federal court," Hill said, summarizing the union's legal steps while urging continued oversight.

Commissioners in the public‑comment portion of the meeting acknowledged hearing the workers’ accounts; Chairwoman Amoroso and Commissioner Ortiz were named by the speakers as officials who had visited or offered support. No formal county action was recorded during the meeting on the matter; the remarks were taken during the public comment period.

The speakers asked commissioners to note ongoing legal filings with the National Labor Relations Board and court cases the union said it had pursued. County officials did not make a public commitment to any new enforcement or county‑level action at the meeting.