Recognizing June 15, 2006 as "Justice for Janitors' Day" and further recognizing and honoring the Service Employees International Union, Local 32BJ for their continued commitment to improving the lives of fellow property services workers throughout the City of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia supports the right of all workers to better wages and health care and recognizes that increased wages help develop sustainable communities that use those earnings to support local businesses; and

WHEREAS, The men and women who clean commercial office buildings in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties work hard each day to support their families; and

WHEREAS, The majority of the janitors in commercial office buildings in Center City Philadelphia are represented by Service Employees International Union, Local 32BJ and earn between $12 and $14 an hour with employer-paid health coverage and pension benefits; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia City Council commends the members of Local 32BJ for their commitment to improving the lives of fellow property services workers throughout the region; and

WHEREAS, Janitors in Philadelphia and surrounding counties who work for various non-union cleaning contractors earn as little as $7.00 per hour and receive few, if any, benefits; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia City Council strongly urges all business to respect its employees’ rights under the National Labor Relations Act to organize and to freely choose a collective bargaining representative; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize June 15, 2006 as “Justice for Janitors Day” in the City of Philadelphia and further recognize and honor the Service Employees International Union, Local 32BJ for their continued commitment to improving the lives of fellow property services workers throughout the City of Philadelphia.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be sent to Michael P. Fishman, President of Local 32BJ.

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