SEIU 1877 Janitors Union Hands Out Awards for Best Employers

In the lead-up to the 2005-2006 Emmy Awards, SEIU Local 1877 janitors union awarded its own honors on Aug. 25 to the best employers in Hollywood while singling out the worst offenders.

While janitors working for most major studios earn fair wages and benefits, union officials said, others work in illegal and unsafe conditions.

“Hollywood needs to clean up its act and take personal responsibility for the hard-working janitors that clean its facilities,” said Mike Garcia, president of Service Employees International Union 1877.

The Golden Broom Award nominees for best studios for janitors are Sony, DramWorks, Warner Bros. and Paramount.

Nominees for the worst overall employers are NBC Universal and Warner Music Group. Union officials say those companies paid “poverty wages” of $7 an hour.

The union has been leading a statewide campaign to organize janitors.

8-25