WRONGFULLY TERMINATED NJ JANITORS RECEIVE 1^st INSTALLMENT OF BACK PAY TOTALING $600,000

Newark—A group of New Jersey janitors can now claim victory after a long battle for justice.  Today the workers, who were illegally terminated, received their first installment check for back pay totaling $600,000.  The payment is part of a settlement agreement with their former employer, Eastern Essential Services.

“It is so gratifying to receive this check today because it’s a symbol of our solidarity and perseverance,” said Luz Orozco, an office cleaner and member of 32BJ.    We marched, rallied and leafletted for 14 months and never gave up despite the odds.  And because our union, 32BJ stood by our side, we got our jobs back as well as back pay.”

The formerly displaced janitors lost their jobs in 2014 when a new contractor, Eastern Essential Services or EES, refused to hire them because of their union affiliation.  32BJ filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board who later found that Eastern Essential Services had broken the law and ordered the contractor to offer the 36 workers their jobs back and give them retroactive pay.   Most of office cleaners went back to work in September of 2015.  But their journey for justice wasn’t over yet.  The fight for back pay took another two years.

“This was a long battle but well worth it because these hardworking men and women have achieved an incredible victory,” said Kevin Brown, 32BJ Vice President and NJ State Director. “Not only did they win their jobs back at union pay and benefits, today the janitors received their first installment check—a testament of their strength and commitment to stand up for themselves to try to  right this terrible wrong.  And their tenacity should inspire us all and serve as a reminder to irresponsible employers that we will do whatever is necessary to fight for workers’ rights.”

The first installment checks were handed out at the National Labor Relations Board office in Newark.  The check amounts vary due to the worker’s length of employment, the amount of time they were out of work and other factors.

*About 32BJ: With 165,000 members in 11 states–including more than 12,000 in New Jersey–32BJ SEIU is the largest property services union in the country.

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