Justice for Janitors

SEIU Organizing Department Records

aorchard — Mon, 16 May 2011 15:50:23 -0400

The 1980s was a difficult time for American Labor. The American economy was in recession and national politics were not hospitable to organized labor. Yet, SEIU grew by 500,000 members. By 1992, SEIU reached the million-member mark. The membership achievements of SEIU can be largely credited to the efforts of its Organizing Department. The primary responsibility of the SEIU Organizing Department was to organize the unorganized. The SEIU Organizing Department sought to gain new membership for the International through targeting building service, healthcare, clerical and public sector employees. Additionally, the Organizing Department gained new SEIU members through the affiliation of formerly independent organizations and unions.

Records from this collection chronicle the expansion of SEIU through organizing campaigns and affiliations, during a period when American organized labor was contracting. The collection contains affiliation agreements, newspaper clippings, correspondence, memorandum, handwritten notes, flyers, brochures, statistics, surveys, agendas, meeting minutes, organizing plans, subsidy requests and recommendations, budgets, buttons, posters, agreements, a cassette tape, reports, expense reports, training materials, organizational charts, speeches, photographs, questionnaire, and anti-union literature. These records provide insight into the planning and strategies behind SEIU’s organizing campaigns, which led to SEIU growth.

SEIU Public Relations Records

aorchard — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:26:31 -0400

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) was founded in 1921 as a union of flat janitors. Over the years it has grown in size and scope, now comprising three divisions: healthcare, property services, and public services. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, SEIU utilized the services of media consultants Abernathy and Associates for public relations and communication work. The collection consists of materials generated by Abernathy and Associates for SEIU, as well as source materials created by other entities (e.g., clippings) used for research and reference. The manuscript and audiovisual materials cover subjects including SEIU’s history and former SEIU President John Sweeney (speeches and the New Voices Slate), healthcare (including the Beverly and Kaiser campaigns), Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, organizing, Justice for Janitors, and asbestos. Document types consist of correspondence, speeches, scholarly articles and book chapters, pamphlets, flyers, reports, and clippings. Audiovisual formats found within the collection include photographs, slides, negatives, cassettes, and DVDs, the contents of which document campaigns (including publicity spots), conventions, events, and speeches.

Janitors, SEIU, and National Custodial Workers Recognition Day

gstrassel — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 14:24:54 -0400

October 2nd is National Custodial Workers Appreciation Day, and it’s a good time to look back at the profession that served as the foundation for the Service Employees International Union, one of the largest partners of the Walter P. Reuther Library. Originally named the Building Service Employees International Union, the union first received its charter as the union for flat janitors in America. Though SEIU has dramatically evolved over the past century, custodial workers continue to serve as one of the largest units within the union. Below are photos from Foundation of the Union: Janitors and Custodians in SEIU, a curated collection of images from the SEIU photograph collections. read more »

SEIU's Justice for Janitors MOPSCAR Awards

gstrassel — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 10:04:13 -0500

SEIU has a knack for creative protest imagery. In 1993, SEIU members parodied the Oscars to raise awareness of Los Angeles-area janitors demonstrating for improved working conditions. In recognition of this year’s approaching Academy Awards, we will take a look back at this portion of the Justice for Janitors campaign. read more »

(29189) Local 82, Justice for Janitors Demonstration, Catholic University, Washington, D.C., 2000

aorchard — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:03:28 -0400

Justice for Janitors demonstration by Local 82 at Catholic University in Washington D.C..

(29211) Local 82, Justice for Janitors Day Demonstration, Washington D.C., 1996

aorchard — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:03:28 -0400

Demonstration during Justice for Janitors Day in Washington D.C. on June 14, 1996.

(29223) Local 82, Justice for Janitors Demonstration, Washington, D.C., 1985

aorchard — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:03:28 -0400

Demonstrators carry a Justice for Janitors banner during a demonstration against United States Service Industries Inc. (USSI) in Washington, D.C.

(29224) Richard Trumka and other demonstrators, Local 82, Justice for Janitors Demonstration, Washington, D.C., 1995

aorchard — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:03:28 -0400

Richard Trumka speaks at a Justice for Janitors demonstration against USSI in Washington, D.C.

(29225) Richard Trumka and other demonstrators, Justice for Janitors Demonstration, Washington, D.C., 1995