Investing in Good Jobs: SKB, JLL, WHI Keep Union Janitors at Five Properties

Now, more than ever Portland is looking to business leaders to invest in Portland. SKB, WHI Real Estate Partners, LP, and JLL have done just that by choosing to continue using a responsible union janitorial contractor at five buildings, totaling 1.3 million square feet of rentable building area. (1)

Over the last several months, The Water Tower, Riverside Centre, Koin Tower, Sixth + Main, and Block 300 – have all been out to bid for janitorial services.  The decision-makers at SKB, WHI, and JLL chose to stick with Responsible Union Contractors at these buildings, making a long-term investment in quality services and economic vitality. 

A continued investment in union janitors and security officers is part of Greater Portland’s success. Trying to cut costs by using low road contractors—employers that lower wages, offer no access to affordable healthcare, provide very limited on the job protections, and do not provide access to other benefits like a secure retirement—is not going to turn around the Commercial Real Estate market. Eliminating union jobs for janitors or security officers may be seen as a short-term solution to cut costs but, in the end, will result in the creation of poverty wage jobs in our region.  

CRE leaders like those at SKB, JLL, and WHI understand that investing in quality jobs makes a real difference in the lives of their custodial staff, promotes employee retention and quality services, and is a contribution to regional economic development. 

See SEIU’s Responsible Contractor Guide for high-road janitorial and security service providers in the Portland metro area.  

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