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The
Great 2000 Janitor's Strike of Los Angeles.
Text and Photographs by Mark Vallen
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The
moment I heard that JUSTICE FOR JANITORS/SEIU Local 1877
had voted to strike, I grabbed my camera and joined them in the
streets. My photographic essay represents just one day in the
amazing series of picket lines, rallies, and marches that were
organized by the striking Janitors of Los Angeles. The photographs
presented on this page are of a massive march and civil disobedience
that occurred April 14th 2000 in Westwood, one of L.A.'s wealthiest
commercial districts. At the culmination of the march, 38 demonstrators
committed civil disobedience by blocking an intersection, resulting
in their arrests. The photograph directly below shows the march
as it began to pour into the main thoroughfare. Some 3,000 striking
Janitors and their supporters took to the streets that day.
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The
Janitors have been some of the poorest workers in Los Angeles,
and at the time of the strike, the average wage was only $6.70
an hour. They are largely a Spanish speaking, immigrant work force,
with a large percentage of the workers being women. These are
the people who clean the office buildings all across L.A., they
dust, scrub the toilets, dump the trash, and vacuum the floors.
When these workers went on strike for a better life, business
offices all across Los Angeles came to a virtual standstill.
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The
Janitors wanted a $1.00 an hour raise for the next three years.
Despite the fact that these workers lived on wages that keep them
below the poverty line, the cleaning companies that employed them
refused to offer livable wages. The greed and avarice of
the contractors was the shame of Los Angeles... but the
sacrifice and determination of the striking Janitors became the
pride of the working class! Other Unions in Los Angeles pledged
their support to the Janitors, as did religious and community
leaders.
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Everywhere
across Los Angeles the new symbol of dignity became a broom held
in a clenched fist! This stunning graphic is actually the official
logo for the JUSTICE FOR JANITORS Union, and was designed
by a local Artist whose name I wish I knew. The chant heard most
often during the Janitor's various street actions was Si Se
Puede! (Yes! We Can!). That slogan exemplified the winning
spirit and optimism of the worker's cause. Another great Union,
the United Farm Workers, used that same slogan. Cesar
Chavez, legendary leader of the UFW once said, "We
know how to sacrifice. We know how to work. We know how to combat
the forces that oppose us. But even more than that, we are true
believers in the whole idea of justice. Justice is so much on
our side, that that is going to see us through."
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One
thing I was very much impressed by was the number of women in
the ranks of the strikers. They played a key role in the dispute
and showed remarkable courage and determination when confronted
by strike breakers and Riot Police. Women made up a large number
of the rank and file... but they also held leadership positions.
Women lead picket lines and marches, and could also be found with
hand held bullhorns exhorting their fellow workers on. Many of
the striking workers couldn't even afford child care, so they
brought their children to the picket lines and demonstrations.
It was an astounding site to see infants being carried in the
arms of striking workers. It made one all the more determined
to see the strikers triumphant!
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The
Janitor's strike culminated in victory due to the determination
of the Janitors and the tremendous outpouring of solidarity from
the people of Los Angeles. Everyone standing together brought
about that victory. Here's how to get in touch with the Janitors
Union;
JUSTICE
FOR JANITORS/SEIU Local 1877
1247 W. 7th St.
Los Angeles, CA. 90017
Phone: (213) 673-2209
Fax: (213) 488-0328
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