Supervisors hear pleas for stronger protections for janitors as contract talks loom

The Government Audit and Oversight Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors held a hearing June 16 on protections for janitors, with supervisors, labor representatives and city officials describing wage stagnation, workplace harassment and gaps in contracting that can leave janitors vulnerable.

"These are some of the most vulnerable, and I should add, tireless workers here in the city and county of San Francisco," said President London Breed, who convened the hearing to review city programs and private-sector contracting practices. She asked the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, the Department on the Status of Women and the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement to report on what the city is doing to protect janitorial workers from harassment, trafficking, wage theft and displacement.

Lisa Pagan, director of policy and planning at OEWD, said janitorial contracts are typically arranged between building owners and third‑party cleaning services under master-lease arrangements, and bidders compete on price in ways that can depress wages. "In this past fiscal year through the month of March, we have placed 109 residents in janitorial and housekeeping positions," Pagan said, describing OEWD placement and training programs and presenting data showing employment growth outpacing wage gains in the sector.

Manush Kandel of the Department on the Status of Women said data on labor trafficking are limited but pointed to studies and local task‑force monitoring that raise concerns for night‑shift and isolated workers. The department recommended team assignments, language‑accessible training and easier reporting pathways so workers can seek help without fear of immigration consequences.

Olga Miranda, president of SEIU Local 87, said contractors and building owners are not doing enough to recruit women into lead positions or to provide training in workers’ languages. She warned that some tech tenants bring their own lower‑paid cleaning crews, "and a lot of the jobs that are being displaced are affecting women," and said the union was considering a strike if contract negotiations fail.

Miranda also described on‑the‑job safety hazards, telling the committee that backpack vacuum units have caused burns to janitors in retail sites. "Two of our janitors were set on fire by the [backpack] vacuum," she said, urging better equipment standards, reporting protocols and employer accountability.

Pat Mulligan of the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement recounted enforcement work and wage protections applicable to custodial workers, including a San Francisco custodial prevailing wage scale and an estimated $1.44 million recovered from contractor investigations. Susan Garth of the Human Resources Department outlined a targeted training proposal for custodial staff and supervisors—train‑the‑trainer materials in English, Spanish and Cantonese—estimated at about $75,000 and requiring roughly six months to implement.

Speakers from the workforce and affected janitors recounted short notice on contract changes, reductions from full‑time to part‑time hours, health and safety incidents and limited opportunities for promotion. John Updike, director of real estate, said city staff were discussing transitions in at least one location and would work with vendors to ensure an appropriate handoff.

The committee closed the public comment period and continued Item 1 to the call of the chair for follow up and potential next steps, including proposals for city staffing, contracting oversight and expanded training.