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Portland Custodians Receive New Contract

More than 2,000 custodians in the Portland, Oregon metro area have agreed to a new contract with regional facility management companies.

Officials with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 49, which represents the custodians, reached an agreement with the management firms to increase the workers’ average pay rate from US$15.75 to $18 by July 2023. In addition, the workers will also receive health care benefit protections, training on green and sustainable cleaning techniques, and access to an education fund. The new deal also includes protections for immigration leave.

“For me personally, I’m happy,” Santa Gonzalez, a Portland custodian and SEIU member told Public News Service. “I can help a little bit more; my family. My mom is older; she is 84 years old, and it’s my responsibility to help her, and this has helped me be able to help her more than I was in the past because my economic situation has improved.”