• Brewery Blocks,  JPMorgan,  JPMorgan Chase,  Millennium Building Services,  News

    JPMorgan, ‘Tis the season to clean up the mess at M Financial Plaza

    Portland, Oregon – Dec. 19, 2024  Controversy continues for JPMorgan Chase after the union janitors were replaced in a JPMorgan-owned building in Oregon.      A group of about 20 janitors and their allies protested today at M Financial Plaza in Portland’s Pearl District, calling on building owner JPMorgan Chase to create good jobs by ensuring a union janitorial company cleans the property.  The janitors, members of SEIU Local 49, first delivered candy canes and sang a Christmas carol at M Financial Plaza, across from Powell’s City of Books in the Brewery Blocks. They hung paper ornaments on a Christmas tree labeled with their items on their wish list, including…

  • News,  Union Difference

    Janitors and Security Officers Reach Historic Bargaining Agreements!

    Contract settlements ensure fair wage increases, protect important union benefits, and will invest an additional $9M into our communities through increased worker spending power while keeping Portland’s offices clean and secure.   The metro area’s union janitors and security officers have secured historic contract agreements ahead of their June 30 expiration dates.   The union agreements include wage increases to keep up with the cost of living, maintain  important union benefits such as affordable healthcare and paid time off, and continue to investing industry training funds that support the safety and success of frontline workers while adding value for building owners and tenants. The agreement also ensures sustainable costs for clients, which…

  • A large group of people wearing purple SEIU Local 49 shirts hold up a banner that says, "Respetanos, Proteganos, Paganos" (Respect Us, Protect Us, Pay Us in Spanish)
    News

    Portland Metro Janitors Kick off Bargaining as Contract Nears Expiration

      Portland janitors who work for many of the metro area’s largest commercial building rally for fair wages and a strong contract. Union janitors who clean the metro area’s largest commercial buildings rallied on May 31 to demand fair wage increases and to protect their affordable healthcare as their contract opened for bargaining. Their current contract expires on June 30, 2024.     Janitors addressed the crowd, sharing stories of what a fair wage increase and maintaining union benefits would mean for their families. Janitors also spoke with pride about the ongoing work they have been doing to clean and maintain our commercial spaces, despite the significant challenges posed by…

  • News,  Unico

    Unico Champions Green Cleaning in Downtown Portland with Innovative Training for Union Janitors

    Green Janitor Health Certification Program seeking new building manager partners. In downtown Portland, Unico is leading the way in green cleaning. Over the last two years, they’ve trained ​​​​​​29 union janitors at their commercial properties as part of the Green Janitor Health Certification Program. The Green Janitor Health Certification Program provides comprehensive training to janitorial staff about practices that meet the latest energy, water, and green initiative standards. It covers topics like energy efficiency, recycling, waste management, water conservation, and more. Through this program, janitors are encouraged to take part in the building’s goals of improving energy efficiency and building health. This means sharing recommendations on improvements to their worksites,…