Unionized janitors at Uptown shopping centre have voted to strike, saying they are understaffed, underpaid and at risk working during the pandemic.
The workers voted to unionize with SEIU Local 2 last June and have been negotiating their first collective agreement. They are calling for a living wage and paid sick days, but say they鈥檝e been ignored by their employer, Everclean Facility Services.
No strike date has been set.
The workers are paid $15.25 an hour, just above sa国际传媒鈥檚 minimum wage. They say it鈥檚 not enough in light of Victoria鈥檚 high living costs. The so-called living wage, according to the Living Wage for Families Campaign in sa国际传媒, is $19.39 an hour, the amount a family needs to make to cover basic expenses. The calculation is based on a two-parent family with two children 鈥 the most common family unit in sa国际传媒 鈥 with each parent working full-time, says the Living Wage for Families Campaign.
Uptown includes retail, office and recreational facilities, as well as large common areas.
Union member and Uptown janitor Lance Szpradowski said the workload has increased over the pandemic. 鈥淚f I had been cleaning the lobby prior to the pandemic, you鈥檇 clean the windows, vacuum carpet, mop the floor. But now we have to sanitize all of the touch surfaces, including door handles, elevators, crash bars, door frames. It鈥檚 what is needed to keep mall visitors safe.鈥
The janitors say they are at increased risk during the pandemic. Hannah 颅Clearwater, a night-shift worker, said they have been working in high-traffic public spaces but 鈥渁ren鈥檛 being treated like we鈥檙e 颅essential by Everclean at all.鈥
Szpradowski said workers worry about striking during the pandemic, but said the employer has left them no options. 鈥淲e were already short-staffed prior to the pandemic. It鈥檚 gotten even worse after the pandemic started. There is so much work to do. But we haven鈥檛 seen any increase in hours or pay. Something has got to give.鈥
A request for comment from Everclean Facility Services was not immediately returned.
Meanwhile, Spinnakers Brewpub & GuestHouses and Spinnakers Spirit Merchants has become the first employer in sa国际传媒鈥檚 brewery industry to commit to paying all its staff and contracted workers a living wage.