by shay bell

Shouting out three cheers to our partners at Service Employees International Union (SEIU) for their latest victory in D.C.! Unionized cleaners in the D.C. region (yes, Virginia too!), as well as Montgomery County, MD, recently settled a month-long negotiation with the Washington Service Contractors Association. This negotiation was made after an organized march was executed on October 5th, with the demand that wages be increased for employees before the expiration of their contract on October 15th. 

Using collective bargaining, these unionized workers were able to secure a pay raise for themselves along with healthcare and life insurance benefits. Additionally, protestors were able to bargain for access to free professional training, language courses, and legal services. Now, these unionized workers are able to combat inflation with their increased wages and live more comfortably. Not only that, but the contract covers workers all over the Commonwealth, including counties in D.C. and Baltimore, MD. 

Collective bargaining efforts like this have been made all across the Commonwealth since the approval of the collective bargaining ordinance in May of 2021. In the last year alone, Virginia has been home to more than fifteen organized collective bargaining efforts, some of which are in the City of Richmond and Virginia Beach, where employees are not paid enough to support themselves. Teachers are now apart of the collective bargaining movement as well, showing up to advocate for better working conditions and pay so that they can live comfortably. 

If you’re looking to join the movement to make sure that people everywhere have the collective bargaining power to make their voices heard and the benefits they deserve, join the good fight with SEIU and make the change you want to see.