Some of Saint Louis University’s lowest-paid employees now have a little more to smile about when they pick up their paychecks. In early April, the janitors of SLU received word that they would be receiving higher pay and better benefits.
John Slosar, associate professor for the school of Social Service, said that he was impressed at the change in janitors’ benefits. “[University President Lawerence] Biondi did the right thing,” he said.
Charles Hatcher, a Local 50 organizer, called SLU’s attention to the problems of crews that cleaned the University. As a result, the University agreed to hire the union workers, raise wages and improve benefits.
The movement was spurred by a rally downtown for African American workers who make up more than 85 percent of the workforce of janitors in the St. Louis area. The Justice for Janitors Campaign is led by Local 50, more than 3,200 employees.
Kathy Hagedorn, vice president for Human Resources, said the issue dealt with social justice. “We believe people need to make a decent living,” she stated in the St. Louis Post Dispatch on April 14.
Through an “in-house” agreement, University janitors will now have University health insurance, pension, substantial pay increases and vacation days. In addition, the employees will receive tuition benefits for themselves and their dependents.
For those covered by the University’s three-year contract with Local 50, the 100 employees will be paid $7.25 and hour in the first year, $7.48 in the second year and $7.72 in the third year.
The janitors who work full time will receive free tuition for up to six hours a semester and coverage under the University’s medical plan. They will also receive 13 paid holidays and can begin building up vacation time.
Under the old contract, none of those arrangements were available. The old contract is scheduled to expire this month.
Hagedorn and other University officials said this is a step in the right direction for the University and its employees. “By bringing the work in-house and providing reasonable pay and benefits, we reduce the turnover, everyone is happier and the work is done more effectively,” Hagedorn stated.
