Rally backs nonunion Target janitors

February 27, 2013 at 1:54AM
This morning Tuesday February 26, 2013 non union janitors picketed in front of the downtown Target store. About 50 people carried signs and shouted slogans while marching around the front entrance to the store.
Nonunion janitors picketed in front of the downtown Target store Tuesday morning. (Dml - Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Janitors who clean Targets held a one-day strike Tuesday, rallying with supporters in front of Target's downtown store.

Employees of cleaning companies who contract with Target and other retailers have been trying to unionize in recent years with the aid of Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha (CTUL). Tuesday, workers held a one-day strike at the Target on Nicollet Mall and nine other Target stores.

Molly Snyder, a Target spokeswoman, said the company's vendors that are responsible for the store cleaning crews reported no interruption.

CTUL has been working the past three years to organize janitors who work for contractors that clean Twin Cities retailers and supermarkets. Many janitors who clean offices are already unionized.

About 4,000 janitors who clean major Twin Cities buildings, including Target's corporate office, are members of Service Employees International Union Local 26. A day before a Sunday strike deadline, Local 26 reached an agreement on a three-year contract with cleaning companies.

Janitors who make $13.42 an hour will get a 50 cents an hour raise under the new contract. CTUL spokespeople said nonunion janitors working for retailers make about $8.50 an hour.

Mike Hughlett • 612-673-7003

This morning Tuesday February 26, 2013 non union janitors picketed in front of the downtown Target store. About 50 people carried signs and shouted slogans while marching around the front entrance to the store. ] Richard.Sennott@startribune.com Richard Sennott/Star Tribune. , Minneapolis Minn. Tuesday 2/26/13) ** (cq)
Nonunion janitors and their supporters picketed in front of the downtown Minneapolis Target store on Tuesday. The nonunion janitors held a one-day strike at the store and nine other Target stores. RICHARD SENNOTT • Star Tribune (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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about the writer

Mike Hughlett

Reporter

Mike Hughlett covers energy and other topics for the Minnesota Star Tribune, where he has worked since 2010. Before that he was a reporter at newspapers in Chicago, St. Paul, New Orleans and Duluth.

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