SEIU 32BJ

Private security officers in Philadelphia are joining together in a civil rights campaign for fair wages, benefits and dignity on the job.

Guards are signing up with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 32BJ and anticipate upcoming employer contract negotiations.

Produced by Kistine Carolan.

MMPTV tells the untold stories of those uniting across struggles to build a movement to end poverty.

Interviews with workers without sick time benefits on proposed legislation in city council that would extend a minimum number of paid sick days to the 40% of Philadelphians who currently lack them. The Philadelphia City Council bill is called "Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces." Call your legislators and ask them to co-sponsor and vote for legislation that would provide paid sick days.

Amendu Evans reports on the effort of SEIU to gather support for Health Care. Recently they rallied at the District Office of Sen. Robert Casey. This is the latest action in their yearlong campaign. 

On this month's show:
+ Unified Taxi Workers Alliance rally against drive-by ticketing
+ SEIU fights for better wages for Delaware workers
+ ACME workers contract battle
Plus music, news & analysis from the perspectives of Philly's working people. 

Photos by Mariel Waloff

Yesterday afternoon, hundreds of Philadelphians came out in the rain to send a message to state legislators (who were meeting nearby) that Mayor Nutter's attempt to balance the city budget on the backs of city workers is unacceptable.

On Tuesday, public employees from four major unions in Philadelphia (TWU 234, AFSCME D.C. 33 and D.C. 47 and SEIU 32BJ), will hold a rally to demand that local and state politicians do not solve the city and state fiscal shortfall on the backs of working class families and public employees.Squeezing low-wage workers is no way to deal with the economic crisis,said Wayne MacManiman, 32BJ Mid-Atlantic Area Director. We are calling on Mayor Nutter to protect the wages of the working people who keep our City running.”The rally comes at a critical time, as workers in AFSCME DC 33 and DC 47 as well as police and firefighters have been working without a contract since June 30th. While these unions are currently in contract negotiations with the City of Philadelphia, there is speculation that it will be difficult to find compromise as the Mayor seeks to flatten workers' wages and cut contributions in healthcare and pension.

Check out MMP's audio and video coverage of the last public employees rallyhere

On Thursday, thousands of workers congregated at Love Park in downtown Philadelphia to let Mayor Nutter know that they are prepared to fight and potentially strike for a fair contract. During the rally, workers from AFSCME District Council 33 were chanting "No Contract No Peace" and carrying signs which read "Shut it Down," and "On Strike-Municipal Workers D.C. 33." The contract between the City and four municipal unions including D.C. 33 and 47, and the police and firefighters unions, expires at midnight on June 30th. While the city seeks to flatten workers' wages and cut contributions in healthcare and pension to mitigate the budget shortfall, union leaders explain that they will not give up already hard won benefits, as workers did not "create this crisis."

29 de Abril 2009, Radio Tlacuache estuvó afuera de Philly en los suburbios con el sindicato SEIU 32BJ.  Ahora los trabajadores de limpieza de Philly esta recibiendo un slario justo por la lucha del sindicato.  Un trabajdor de este sindicato recibe $15 por hora mas beneficios.  Pero las mismas companias que paga bien sus empleos en la ciudad esta tratando de esconderse en las afrueras de  Philly y sigue pagando salarios miserables a los trabajadores que se queda limpia sus oficinas.

On this month's edition of Labor Justice Radio:

+ Housing Organizers Frame the Economic Crisis

+ Community Responds to Northeastern Hospital Closure

+ Security Guards Speak Out about City Cuts to Wages

+ Cab Drivers Discuss Economic Survival under Rising Fees

+ Low Wage Workers continue to Organize in Baltimore

Plus music and other news.