Janitors

SEIU Executive Office: John Sweeney Records

ljones — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 12:52:45 -0500

For many, John Sweeney is known as the now former head of the AFL-CIO, a position from which he retired in 2009 after 14 years of service. For most of the previous 35 years, though, he was a member turned officer of the Service Employees International Union, having served 15 of those years as its President. The SEIU Executive Office: John Sweeney Records document his tenure during these 15 years, although portions of these records predate his tenure in that office.

The records contain files documenting the activities of SEIU local unions, joint councils and other SEIU affiliates. In addition, the files of SEIU executive board members, vice presidents, divisions, departments and staff members are also found within the collection, often within series identified in this manner. Researchers can also review records documenting the meetings, hearings, conventions and conferences Sweeney attended and at which he often spoke or testified. Records documenting SEIU's conventions from its inception in 1921 until 1992 are also found within these records. The records of the conventions reveal the major policy shifts of the union. Sweeney's interest in healthcare are also found within these records in addition to the union's external relationships with labor organizations and others.

SEIU International Affairs Records

aorchard — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 10:30:15 -0500

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. While most of SEIU’s members reside in the United States, the SEIU is an international union with members and affiliates in countries all over the world. The records of SEIU’s International Affairs Department document the SEIU’s relationships with companies, unions, organizations, and labor activists in other countries, as well as detail departmental operations. Document formats found within the records primarily include correspondence, meeting minutes and agenda, booklets, and reports.

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 Photographs

gstrassel — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 09:05:09 -0400

A collection of photographic prints spanning the union's long history, the SEIU Photograph Collection is the culmination of decades of photographic work produced or compiled by SEIU's international headquarters staff. The images document a wide range of individuals, organizations, events, and topics related to SEIU. The majority of these materials come from their Communications Department, who utilized the images in various types of print materials. Amateur photography by SEIU members of specific events for personal use makes up another significant portion of the collection. The dominant file type is the photographic print, though negatives, photo CD's, publications, and other formats comprise the rest of the collection.

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