CTUL 2013 Year End Report

8/13/2019 CTUL 2013 Year End Report

1/12

2013 YEAR END REPORT

Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha CTUL)www.ctul.net

2013: The Year of the Strike


2/12

SUMMARY2013 was a huge year for worker justice in the Twin Cities, with hundreds of low-wage worker leaders at CTUL

leading powerful actions, from three strikes in retail cleaning to individual campaigns at dozens of workplaces torecover unpaid wages, winning significant changes, including:

- Recovering over $700,000 in unpaid wages and damages;- Consolidating the first raises in retail cleaning after over a decade of declining wages, leading to over $1.5million / year in increased income into the poorest communities of the Twin Cities;

- Setting key precedence in health and safety protections for low wage workers in Minnesota, including:establishing the right of community organizations to stand as personal representatives of workers in OSHA proceedings, ensuring the right of workers to form health and safety committees in their workplaces, and

gaining workplace safety trainings for hundreds of workers.

- Signing the first agreement with a retail janitorial company in the Twin Cities, recognizing workers’ rightsto organize without fear of retaliation; and

- Opening dialogue with Target Corporation regarding working conditions in retail cleaning.

Hundreds of low-wage workers participated in CTUL’s Leadership Development Program, gainingtools to stand up for their rights in their workplaces. Ten members of CTUL participated in our first

Leadership Schools, joining an intensive week of trainings and actions, gaining the tools to beleaders in their workplaces and their communities.


3/12

Campaign for Justice in Retail CleaningCTUL is at the forefront of a growing wave of low-wage worker strikes across the country. Retail janitors who

work for contracted companies cleaning Target and other stores in the Twin Cities and are members of CTUL ledthree strikes in 2013, calling for fair wages and the right to organize without fear of retaliation.

BACKGROUND: Over the past decade, wages and working conditions have spiraled out of control in retailcleaning – wages have dropped by several dollars an hour while workload has nearly doubled. Janitors who work

for contracted companies cleaning Target Headquarters have a union and earn $13.92 starting wages, plus benefits.On the other hand, janitors who do similar work for contracted companies cleaning Target stores do not have a

union and earned around $7.25 starting wages with little to no benefits at the beginning of the campaign in 2010.

FIGHTING FOR CHANGE: Worker led actions over the course of the year led to many significant changes in

the industry, including the first raises after over a decade of declining wages, improved health and safety standards,

and ensuring the right to organize at one company. After years of attempt at opening dialogue with TargetCorporation, one day before the second strike of retail janitors executives of the company opened dialogue withCTUL and retail janitors who work for companies cleaning Target stores in the Twin Cities metro area. The first

retail janitorial company in the Twin Cities signed an agreement recognizing workers’ rights to organize - Anisca.CTUL became the first community organization to be able to represent low-wage workers in OSHA proceedings as

the personal representative of workers. In addition, CTUL has partnered with Minnesota OSHA to enforce a littleknown statute protecting the rights of workers to form health and safety committees in their workplaces.


4/12

Strike 1: February 201311 retail janitors from three different companies participated in a one-day unfair labor practice strike,leading a huge picket line in front of Target’s hub store in downtown Minneapolis. CTUL coordinatedthis action as part of a week of action together with Minnesotans for a Fair Economy (MFE). The strike

was covered by MPR, Pioneer Press, Star Tribune, and several local television stations.

Strike 2: July 201325 retail janitors from four different companies participated in a two-day unfair labor practice strike,

leading picket lines in front of the Target stores in downtown Minneapolis and on Lake Street. One day before the strike, Target executives met with CTUL and agreed to open dialogue with workers after years

of attempting to communicate with the company, leading to a series of meetings with workers. On thesecond day of the strike, one striking worker from each company went to Denver to participate in Target’sannual shareholder meeting. Target executives met with workers in the first of a series of meetings. This

action was also part of a week of action together with MFE.

"#$%&'( )* +',-. /0 01 +(- +20&3,-4 50'43

The strike gained significant local and national press, including an article in The Nation magazine:“Approximately thirty workers from twenty-five mostly Target retailers walked off the job Monday.Throughout the day on Tuesday, around 250 protesters picketed outside Target’s flagship downtown

Minneapolis store. Several workers will fly to the corporation’s annual meeting in Denver Wednesday totalk to executives and shareholders about the reality faced by workers who clean Target stores,” “Striking

Janitors in Minnesota Demand an End to Retaliation,” The Nation, Alleen Brown, 6/12/13.


5/12

Strike 3: Black Friday, November 2013With each strike, the number of workers participating nearly doubled with 45 retail janitors participating in this

strike. Previous to the march, over 1,500 community allies signed petitions calling for a change in retail cleaning.Workers began the day with a picket line outside of the downtown Minneapolis Target store.

"#$%&'( )* +,),--&- .%/$-0%#11

CTUL then joined the March to End Poverty Wages together with a coalition of organizations including:

OurWalmart, TakeAction MN, SEIU, Greater MN Worker Center & MFE. Over 1,000 low-wage workers and

allies from across the state marched down University Ave calling for fair wages. 26 workers and community allies participated in an act of civil disobedience, calling for an end to poverty wages in Minnesota, including CTUL

member Leroy Graham who works for Diversified Maintenance Systems cleaning a Target store. The march placedthe voices of low-wage workers at the forefront of the movement to raise the minimum wage in Minnesota.

"#$%&'( )* +,),--&- .%/$-0%#11

“Maricela Flores, 40, started her day protesting at 5:30 a.m. along with about 150 others outside the Target on

Nicollet Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. A single mother of five, she said a livable wage would be $12 to $13

an hour, compared with the $8 an hour she makes cleaning at a Target in Shakopee, where she is a contractemployee. ‘We’re the workers that make Black Fridays possible,’ said Flores, who is from Mexico and has lived in

the U.S. for 20 years. ‘We make the holidays happen,’” “26 arrested in Black Friday protests over low retail

wages,” Pioneer Press, Raya Zimmerman, 11/29/13.

"My name is Leroy Graham and I work for Diversified Maintenance cleaning a

Target store. We make very low wages and we don’t have a voice on the job. So manof us have to struggle to survive. Many have to have two jobs to do it. This just

creates more anxiety, depression, sickness. There is a system behind all of this. And

you need to have two jobs to survive, then something is wrong with that system. As

long as we don’t have a voice on the job, nothing will ever get better. If you don’t sa

something, they will always think its ok to treat us this way. I am fighting so we can

have a voice, so that we can pursue a better future. To have everyone come together

under the same fight to earn a better life with better wages. We can’t go backwards

and forwards at the same time. This system has gone backwards for long enough wi

less wages and more work. We need to go forward! Everyone needs to have a voice

be able to make our jobs better. That’s what we are fighting for this Black Friday.""#$%&'( ) +,),--&- .%/$-0%#11


6/12

Wage Theft Campaign

In 2013 CTUL partnered with hundreds of low-wage workers to recover over $700,000 in unpaid wages anddamages from unscrupulous employers who did not pay workers their full wages.

Retail janitors at Diversified Maintenance systems worked with CTUL in a class action lawsuit that settled for

$675,000 in back wages and damages. According to an article in the Star Tribune: “The complaint alleged thatcertain managers made workers, mostly at five Twin Cities Target stores, punch into work on certain days using

“ghost employee” ID cards. According to the court documents, the “scheme” required the janitors to clock in and

sign work cards using the names of former DMS employees at least one or two days a week. The practice meantthat those who worked as much as 56 to 80 hours a week received only regular pay,” “ Janitors in some Targets win

overtime settlement,” Star Tribune, Dee Depass, 2/15/13.

23 4&3( 56789 :;(>)(' =(%#$#, ?&3#@, A/3 %B(

C:/&',@(/&0 "1,#3%#DDE ,A,'F D'/> %B( G,%#/3,1

H>I1/*>(3% =,A*('0 J00/$#,%#/39 '($/@3#K#3@ B('

1(,F('0B#I #3 , 1,A0% ,@,#30% .('L#$( M,3,@(>(3%

.*0%(>0 N.M.OP =(%#$#, $1(,3(F , 0%/'( #3 %B( Q#F@(F,1( M,11

AB('( 0B( D,$(F '(I(,%(F 0(R&,1 B,',00>(3%P S($,&0( /D

B(' 1(,F('0B#I #3 %B#0 1,A0%9 =(%#$#, A/3 $B,3@(0 /3 ,

3,%#/3,1 1(L(1 ,% .M.9 (30&'#3@ >/'( I'/%($%#/30 D/'

A/'-('0 D'/> D&%&'( 0(R&,1 B,',00>(3%P


7/12

Community Engagement

Fiesta del TrabajadorOver 200 low-wage workers and their families gathered to celebrate CTUL’s sixth year anniversary.

Raise the Wage RoundtableCTUL joined the call to Raise the Wage in Minnesota, coming out for a roundtable discussion with

airport workers, U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan and others.

CTUL Second Annual Gala and Silent AuctionHundreds of community allies came out for CTUL’s annual fundraiser, raising over $20,000 to continue

our organizing efforts, featuring future mayor-elect Betsy Hodges as the keynote speaker


8/12

La Voz del PuebloCTUL members regularly participate in the weekly KFAI program, La Voz del Pueblo, bringing

information about workers’ rights in the workplace.

El Dia de los ReyesCTUL’s annual celebration of El Dia de los Reyes brought hundreds of low-wage workers together.

Pancake BreakfastCTUL began a new tradition with our first pancake breakfast, bringing together community allies to stand

together with workers in the fight for fair wages and working conditions.


9/12

CTUL Members Speak OutIn spite of ongoing threats of retaliation against workers for participating in actions to gain fair wages, fair

working conditions, and the right to organize, hundreds of workers have stood up for justice, signing petitions calling for dialogue with their companies, wearing buttons to work calling for an end to poverty

wages, making videos and participating in three strikes.

"#$%&'( )* +',-. /0 01 +(-

+20&3,-4 50'43

My name is Maricela Flores, and I work for Carlson Building Maintenance

cleaning a Target store. This is the second time I have gone on strike. This time

impacted me a lot more because I knew that I was not only going on strike, I was

finally going to meet with Target representatives in Denver before their

shareholder meeting! I was nervous before the meeting because I was afraid they

would talk to us like our supervisors talk to us – mean and dismissive. When we

got there, I actually got a chance to talk about all the problems me and my

coworkers face cleaning their stores. It felt really good to be able to say these

things outloud to people who I know can make a difference. They weren’t mean to

us. They listened to us. I think that this was a really good step. But my working

conditions are still the same. I hope that as we keep talking to Target we canbegin to make some real changes at work.

My name is Santos Rodriguez. I work at Diversified Maintenance Systems

cleaning a Kmart store and my wages are terrible. I have to have two jobs to

survive, and even still I have to pay my rent with one check and wait until the next

to pay my bills and food. I have no health insurance or any savings. I am really

worried about what will happen as I get older. Even though I am healthy now, Iknow I won’t be forever. That’s why I have decided that I need to be a leader in

this fight for fair wages and working conditions. Being a part of this makes me

proud. I know that if we all join together we can win this!

My name is Emilio Miranda Rios and I work for Eurest Services cleanin

a Home Depot store. With the amount that they pay, our checks can nevcover the rent, food, clothes, telephone and other expenses. It limits my

family and at times we have to go to the church food pantry to get food.

In this struggle I have lost my fear of fighting, and now supervisors don

say anything about it because they know I have support. I don’t just say

that because I think it, but because I’ve seen it. Each step that we’ve

made in the struggle we’ve found new allies that support us because they

know that all workers have rights. With CTUL I’ve realized that we have

rights to defend ourselves for a just cause. If we keep fighting, we will

win. That is our hope.


10/12

My name is Blanca Jimenez and I work for Carlson

Building Maintenance. I came to this country for a better

life and to make my dreams come true. Where I work, mywages are low and I work very hard while others get rich

off my work. All I am doing is making their dreams come

true. Even though we have worked so hard for them, they

still haven’t given us the wages and working conditions

we deserve. Now we are organizing together to make our

own dreams come true. We will not stop until we get

what we deserve.

My name is Rodrigo Perez and I work at Eurest cleaning a Home Depot. I have a

wife and son who depend on me. I need a raise for my family. It’s time for fair

wages and benefits. For example, I work seven days per week and I don’t have a

free day to spend with my family. I want to have days to rest and be with my

family. In addition, we don’t have very many hours each day, so I have to work

two jobs to be able to cover rent and other expenses. The companies can pay

more. A lot of people are profiting off our work, while we receive poverty wages.

That is why we are fighting.

“My name is Enrique Barcenas and I work for Prestige Maintenance cleaning Target

stores in Apple Valley. Me and another striking worker from another company,

Carlson Building Maintenance, drove with some allies 15 hours without sleeping at

all, to have the chance to speak with Target representatives. I was nervous because I

didn’t know what it would be like to meet with these people who have so much power.

I didn’t know if they would listen to us or what they would say to us. But once I was

sitting in the meeting, I lost my fear. I realized that I was sitting across the table from

some pretty powerful people…which meant that I was also a powerful person. In that

meeting, there were a total of four striking workers who clean 3 Target Stores and a

Home Depot. We were able to tell these representatives what we and our co-workers face everyday cleaning their stores – Miserable wages, work overload, and poor

working conditions. At the end of the meeting, Target representatives agreed to meet

again to continue our discussion. Hopefully, it will be productive and we can work

together to improve wages and working conditions in the retail cleaning industry.

However, until we have some concrete improvements, we will continue the struggle to

et contractors to meet with us as well.”


11/12

"My name is Alora DePlacito and I work for Eurest Services cleaning a Kohl’s

store. Living with low-wages is like being in a constant flood of problems and

there is no way to get above water. You're stuck. I am constantly anxious. Even

though I go to college I worry that I'll never be able to pay my loans back since

all the jobs are so low paying. All it takes is one little problem for life to spiral for

months. I'm still trying to get back on my feet after my car broke down. I would

have starved had friends not given me food. This fight made me see the bigger

picture and realize that if you don't fight for better wages you're never going to get it. I have more self-confidence in my work now. I feel stronger as a person

now. The job is very isolating and it's easy to listen to the wrong person. In ten

years is Eurest going to pat me on the back and thank me for my hard work-No!

My well-being is worth fighting for. This fight is about taking back our humanity."

My name is Celina Onofre. I work at Carlson cleaning a Target

store, and I am fighting because I have no other choice. As a

single mother of 4 kids, my wages are not nearly enough. Its not

fair that we are making such low wages while the companies and stores are getting richer and richer off of our work. Meanwhile

they don’t even treat us like human beings. I want the companies

to know that. I went on strike this year because as we have been

seeking fair wages and benefits, our companies began to retaliate

against workers. This fight has made me strong. I know that I

need to be strong and an example for my kids. We will keep

fighting until we win!

Bonifacio Salinas, works for Diversified Maintenance Systems cleaning a Target store “I work for Diversified cleaning the Target store in Downtown Minneapolis. I have always said that if we

want to make things better, we need to stand up and fight for them. That’s what I have been doing here

with my coworkers, demanding the right to organize without fear of retaliation. That’s why I went on

strike and that’s why I wanted to go to Target’s annual shareholder meeting. I was the first person in line

when I found out we had the opportunity to go to the shareholder meeting, and I was the one that got to

ask the CEO a question. I asked him if he shared our vision that workers who work for contracted

companies cleaning his stores should have fair wages, safe and healthy workplaces, and the right to

organize without fear of retaliation. He said he did. He said we could meet with a team from Target to

discuss this further. I think the impact of our strike this time was huge. We got a meeting with Target! I

know it’s not over yet, but I think this shows that if we fight together, we can win.“


12/12

We would like to thank the following organizations for your support

Endorsements of the Campaign

for Justice in Retail CleaningFaith-Based Organizat ions:

• MN Conference of United Church of Christ• Workers Interfaith Network• Jewish Community Action• Bethany Lutheran Church• Holy Trinity Lutheran Church• Spirit of Truth• Cherokee Park United Church• Lyndale United Church of Christ• St. Paul’s Monastery Justice and Peace

Committee• Justice Commission of the Sisters of St.

Joseph of Carondelet and Consociates• Justice and Peace Network of the Sisters of

St. Francis• Guardian Angels Catholic ChurchLabor Organizat ions: • UFCW Local 1189• SEIU Local 26• AFSCME Council 5 • Minneapolis Federation of Teachers• United Auto Workers, Local 879 • St. Paul Federation of Teachers• OPEIU Local 12• AFSCME Local 3800• Twin Cities branch of the IWWCommunity Organizat ions: • Take Action Minnesota• Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy • MN Immigrant Rights Action Coalition• Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition• Neighborhoods Organizing for Change• Centro Campesino• La Conexion de las Americas• Minneapolis Autonomous Radical Space• Opposition to War and Occupation• Iraq Peace Action Coalition• Sisters of Camelot• Social Welfare Action AllianceStudent Organizat ions: • Minnesota Public Interest Research Group• Adelante, Macalester• SDS, Macalester

Funders:

• Catholic Campaign for HumanDevelopment

• Otto Bremer Foundation• Minneapolis Foundation• Surdna Foundation• Ben & Jerry’s Foundation• Headwaters Foundation• Still Ain’t Satisfied: A Foundation with

an Attitude

• Common Counsel• Corridors of Opportunity

Supporting Organizations and

Individuals

• Miller-O’Brien Cummins LLC• Waite House• SEIU Local 284• SEIU Healthcare• ISAIAH • Minnesotans for a Fair Economy • US Representative Keith Ellison • ELCA Minneapolis Area Synod Bishop

Craig Johnson

• State Senator Patricia Torres-Ray • State Senator Jeff Hayden• State Representative Sandy Pappas• State Representative Jim Davnie • State Representative Ray Dehn• Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges• Minneapolis City Council Member

Elizabeth Glidden • Minneapolis City Council Member

Alondra Cano

Documents

CTUL 2013 Year End Report