Local 73 attends Blue Island School Board meeting to call out mistreatment of union custodial staff

Workers and staff of SEIU Local 73 attended the Blue Island School Board meeting on Tuesday night to ensure that the board was well aware of its exploitation and neglect of its custodial workers.

For months, Local 73 members and staff have advocated against the board’s consistent mistreatment of workers. The board’s anti-union and racist activities against its custodians have been absolutely unacceptable and have led to less safe learning environments for its students.

Custodial worker Ernestina Manrique attended the meeting and spoke to the effects of short staffing; she said she arrived at work one morning to find all the school lights turned on and the school completely open.

Jeffrey Howard, an officer at SEIU Local 73, said the board needs to “do right by these workers.”

“We know what’s going on, and I’m imploring you to do better by these workers,” Howard told the board. “Bargain a contract; give these people what they need.”