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Council backs janitors amid contract talks, urges employers to reach agreement before March 31 expiry
Summary
After public testimony from janitors and union leaders that contractors offered a five-year wage freeze, the City Council adopted a resolution urging employers and janitors to reach a negotiated agreement before the contract expiration and expressing support for wage increases and benefits.
The Los Angeles City Council unanimously adopted a resolution on March 28 urging the parties in master janitorial contract negotiations to reach an agreement before the contract covering roughly 8,500 janitors expired on March 31.
Union representatives testified at the hearing that contractors had offered a five‑year wage freeze and proposed cuts to benefits. John Barton of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor told the council the janitors perform services that keep office buildings healthy and safe yet many earn poverty-level wages. Mike Garcia, president of the janitors— union negotiating committee, said "the contractors are offering a wage freeze for 5 years. This is absolutely unacceptable." Janitor Maria Cuevas described her experience as a single mother working nights and said members were prepared to strike if a fair settlement was not reached.
Councilmember Goldberg introduced the resolution and framed it as urging both the janitors and the contractors to reach a fair settlement. Council members including Padilla and Chick spoke in support, noting the overall real estate market strength and the small per-square-foot economic impact of modest wage adjustments.
The council voted to adopt the resolution with a recorded vote of 12 ayes. Members noted they cannot sign contracts on behalf of private employers or contractors but said the council would use its voice to urge a settlement.
Council action: resolution adopted urging parties to reach agreement and encouraging building owners to participate in resolving the dispute to avoid a strike.
