By Associated Press, 10/23/02
Striking Boston-area janitors and cleaning contractors reached a settlement Wednesday according to both sides, ending a three-week labor dispute centered around janitors' demands for higher wages, health insurance, and more full-time work. Announcement of the settlement was made late this afternoon by Mayor Thomas M. Menino.
Menino said at a 5:30 p.m. press conference that 1,000 part-time janitors will receive health insurance as part of the settlement.
The strike, which started Sept. 30, targeted nearly 100 high profile buildings throughout the Boston area, from the downtown Financial District to suburban business parks.
Contractors claimed the labor dispute did little to disrupt their operations and 90 percent of janitors reported to work.
The janitors, represented by the Service Employees International Union Local 254, staged numerous noisy and colorful pickets, and received struck public supports from people ranging from Cardinal Bernard Law to college students.
Acting Gov. Jane Swift gave the workers a boost by severing the Statehouse's contract with Unicco, the company at the center of the janitors strike.
The move averted a planned picket of the Statehouse that had lawmakers scrambling to find other places to work. Many politicians, as well as other unions, including the Teamsters, had pledged not to cross picket lines.
Prominent Boston businesses, including John Hancock Financial Services, State Street Corp. and FleetBoston Financial Corp., said they would be willing to look at additional costs to accommodate increases in janitors' pay.
But their overtures to the cleaning contractors were rejected, James B. Canavan, lead negotiator for the cleaning contractors. The contractors said that the contract offer was the best the janitors had ever received, and the strike was being driven by protesters shipped in from out of state.