Boston Janitors End Strike After Deal Struck on Health Benefits for Part-Time Workers

The union representing 11,000 Boston-area janitors and 30 cleaning companies have reached a tentative agreement that in part would provide health benefits for some part-time workers, ending a three-week strike, the New York Times reports. Health insurance "was the main issue in the dispute," the Times reports (Greenhouse, New York Times, 10/24). Members of Boston Local 254 of the Service Employees International Union went on strike to gain health care coverage for part-time workers. Previously, only full-time janitors received employer-funded health care coverage and were able to purchase coverage for family members. Part-time workers, who comprise 75% of the union's work force, did not qualify for employer-sponsored coverage (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 10/17). Under the new five-year deal, 1,000 part-time workers "in the largest buildings" will receive employer-funded health insurance and every janitor will now receive two paid sick days a year. "We've shown that our community expects big corporations to provide health benefits and that workers can take a stand on this issue and win," Rocio Saenz, deputy trustee of Local 254, said. The workers will vote on the contract next week (New York Times, 10/24).