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NEWS RELEASE capital district WORKER
center For Release: Dec. 8,
2004 Community leaders who participated in the Worker Rights Board "Justice for Janitors" hearing will release their report and recommendations at a news conference in the LCA Press Room of the LOB at the Empire State Plaza at 11a.m. on Friday, Dec. 10. The report is available here as a .pdf document. Click here for a copy. "Opening the Janitor's Closet: Unfair Practices in the Building Service Industry" is based on testimony from area workers employed in the building service industry plus cleaning service and union representatives. Little-known industry practices and cut-throat competition by contractors sentence these janitors to low wages and inadequate benefits. The report endorses actions that can be taken by workers, supporters, elected officials and community leaders to address this exploitation. Assemblyman Jack McEneny, Assemblyman Robert Prentiss, County Legislator Wanda Willingham, Albany County DA Elect David Soares, Carmen Rau, community activist and Reverend Joyce Hartwell were Worker Rights Board panelists at the hearing. All but Ms Rau will be present on Dec. 10 to answer questions about the report and recommendations. Area building service workers and representatives of their unions will also be on hand to support the conclusions reached by the panel. December 10 is Human Rights Day, a commemoration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948. The Capital District WORKER Center and its parent group the Capital District Labor-Religion Coalition/ Jobs with Justice have chosen Dec.10 in special recognition of Article #23, Section #4 of the Universal Declaration. This section clearly conveys the message that worker rights are human rights by citing "the right of just and favorable working conditions" and "remuneration ensuring for [a worker] and his family an existence worthy of human dignity." It also states, "Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests." ###
Last Updated:12/10/2004 |