In 2018, take the guesswork out of choosing your cleaning & security contractors
Just like the nation’s largest real estate owners and managers, you probably rely on outsourced security and cleaning services to keep your building—and business—running safely and smoothly. Unfortunately, we know not every service contractor can be trusted to deliver value for both their clients and workforce. In response, folks just like you—property owners, managers, pension funds and more—have adopted responsible contractor policies to better inform their decisions when hiring security and cleaning professionals. This year, to help you navigate the long list of potential service contractors, we have developed an easy-to-use online tool—www.ResponsibleContractorGuide.org—which rates security and cleaning companies based on various responsible business practices, taking the worry out of the…
Nike Janitors Vindicated by State Agency Findings
After state enforcement action triggered by worker complaints, Millennium Building Service (MBS) appears to have had to correct some of its ways. Millennium janitors clean buildings throughout the Portland area, including buildings at Nike World Headquarters, Daimler Trucks of North America, some buildings at Portland State University, and downtown office buildings. Millennium janitors filed complaints with Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) in September alleging wage theft, underpayment of wages, and denial of legally protected sick time. BOLI already found that Millennium was not in compliance with the law protecting sick time for at least one janitor who cleans at Nike World Headquarters. Other wage and hour complaints against…
Spotlight on Daimler at Prosper Portland Board meeting
When Daimler Trucks of North America received up to $20 million in city and state subsidies to construct its new headquarters, the company committed to bringing good jobs to Portland as part of the deal. Because Daimler’s janitors are employed by subcontractor Millennium Building Services, and subcontractors aren’t covered by the good jobs commitment, their jobs aren’t required to meet the criteria Daimler agreed to follow. Janitors are asking Daimler to follow the spirit of their commitment and to help raise job quality standards for subcontractors. On October 25, MBS janitors brought their concerns to a public meeting of Prosper Portland’s commissioners, since Prosper Portland invested millions in Daimler’s HQ.…
Umpqua Bank Plaza Tenants Hear Scary Truth
On Halloween, janitors and community supporters visited Umpqua Bank Plaza to share frightening news with tenants about the janitorial company selected to clean the building. Umpqua Bank Plaza first caught the attention of community leaders this summer, when new building owner Zeller Realty replaced its union janitorial company with National Maintenance Contractors (NMC). As Willamette Week reported in 2004, “the bogus ‘franchises’ that janitorial contractor National Maintenance Contractors has been peddling to poor immigrants are rife with roguery… NMC lures franchisees, usually non-English speakers with no business experience, with the promise of owning their own janitorial company.” NMC continues its franchising practices. Last month, the Oregon Court of Appeals upheld…
Portland janitors step up their call on building owners to practice responsible contracting
Millennium Building Service (MBS) janitors, who clean the offices of major corporations and institutions across Portland, filed complaints with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) on Wednesday, 9/20, alleging wage theft, underpayment of wages, and denial of legally-protected sick time. A group of janitors visited the BOLI offices asking for action to reclaim back wages and recognition for their rights on the job. MBS janitors clean buildings at Nike World Headquarters, Daimler Trucks’ North American Headquarters, and office buildings owned by Portland State University. As part of Raise America PDX actions, community supporters signed onto a letter asking why companies like Daimler and Nike, which received massive public…
We're working together for a better economy, good jobs, and healthy, safe buildings.
