ST. LOUIS — Fifteen janitors who are represented by a union are losing their jobs at a downtown St. Louis office building as a non-union firm takes over a contract for the work, according to Service Employees International Union Local 1.
Janie McKinley is among the janitors who worked at 10 S. Broadway, formerly known as the Equitable Building. She said she and her co-workers were told by security guards Wednesday afternoon they could no longer work there. The building’s property manager, Colliers International, decided to replace their employer, Platinum Cleaning & Facility Services, with non-union Buildingstars, based in Maryland Heights, according to SEIU Local 1. The changeover is set to take effect next week, the union said, saying Colliers has given no indication that the 15 union janitors would continue as Buildingstars employees.
“I’ve dedicated my working life, since 1980, to cleaning and maintaining the Equitable Building," said the 79-year-old McKinley. “My co-workers and I don’t deserve to be tossed out like trash under any circumstances. We’re not moving on without a fight.”
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