Local News in Brief : Firing of Janitors With Union Ties Protested

With brooms hoisted, about 50 janitors marched outside a downtown bank building Tuesday to protest the firing of four custodians who had taken part in a union-organizing drive.

Leaders of Local 399 of the Service Employees International Union presented a “turkey of the year” award to the manager of the Banco Popular building at 324 S. Spring St. The manager was not present but was represented by a demonstrator wearing a pig mask.

Real turkeys were also distributed to the fired workers and janitors at another downtown building where organizing efforts are under way.

Union officials said they are seeking a $5.50 hourly wage, health insurance and sick leave for janitors at the Banco Popular and Olympic Union buildings, where custodians earn the minimum wage of $4.25 an hour and receive no benefits.

The organizing drive, part of the nationwide Justice for Janitors movement, recently got a boost from the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency, which leases six of the bank building’s eight floors. The CRA informed the building manager last week that it may exercise its right to hire its own janitors, said Gregory T. Meyer, deputy administrator for management services.

Managers of the two buildings did not return a reporter’s phone calls.