Elizabeth Warren Rallies With Greater Boston Janitors For Fair Pay
BOSTON (CBS) -- Thousands of janitors and security workers from across the region took to the streets and rallied on Boston Common. Members of the 32BJ SEIU say they want a fair contract for property workers.
"These are hard-working janitors that clean all the buildings downtown Boston all the higher education," 32BJ SEIU Vice President Roxana Rivera said.
Speaking at the rally Senator Elizabeth Warren says she vows to support their fight for equality in the workforce.
"My daddy was a janitor and I saw how hard he worked and how under-appreciated he was treated," Warren said.
At age 93 Hazel Ingram says she's been cleaning offices for more than 60 years. Now she works to help send her grandchildren to college.
"Everybody needs equal rights and decent wages and benefits for their families," Ingram said.
The commercial cleaning contract expires at the end of September. The 2000 janitors rallying today are asking for a new and better contract that reflects the hard work they do with better wages and benefits. Workers here in Boston make $18 dollars an hour.
"We want a wage increase to keep up with cost of living no matter where you clean here in the state," Rivera said.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports