2013 YEAR END REPORT

Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha (CTUL) www.ctul.net

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2013: The Year of the Strike

SUMMARY
2013 was a huge year for worker justice in the Twin Cities, with hundreds of low-wage worker leaders at CTUL leading powerful actions, from three strikes in retail cleaning to individual campaigns at dozens of workplaces to recover unpaid wages, winning significant changes, including:

- Recovering over $700,000 in unpaid wages and damages; - Consolidating the first raises in retail cleaning after over a decade of declining wages, leading to over $1.5 million / year in increased income into the poorest communities of the Twin Cities; - Setting key precedence in health and safety protections for low wage workers in Minnesota, including: establishing the right of community organizations to stand as personal representatives of workers in OSHA proceedings, ensuring the right of workers to form health and safety committees in their workplaces, and gaining workplace safety trainings for hundreds of workers. - Signing the first agreement with a retail janitorial company in the Twin Cities, recognizing workers rights to organize without fear of retaliation; and - Opening dialogue with Target Corporation regarding working conditions in retail cleaning.

Hundreds of low-wage workers participated in CTULs Leadership Development Program, gaining tools to stand up for their rights in their workplaces. Ten members of CTUL participated in our first Leadership Schools, joining an intensive week of trainings and actions, gaining the tools to be leaders in their workplaces and their communities.

Campaign for Justice in Retail Cleaning

CTUL is at the forefront of a growing wave of low-wage worker strikes across the country. Retail janitors who work for contracted companies cleaning Target and other stores in the Twin Cities and are members of CTUL led three strikes in 2013, calling for fair wages and the right to organize without fear of retaliation.

BACKGROUND: Over the past decade, wages and working conditions have spiraled out of control in retail cleaning wages have dropped by several dollars an hour while workload has nearly doubled. Janitors who work for contracted companies cleaning Target Headquarters have a union and earn $13.92 starting wages, plus benefits. On the other hand, janitors who do similar work for contracted companies cleaning Target stores do not have a union and earned around $7.25 starting wages with little to no benefits at the beginning of the campaign in 2010.

FIGHTING FOR CHANGE: Worker led actions over the course of the year led to many significant changes in the industry, including the first raises after over a decade of declining wages, improved health and safety standards, and ensuring the right to organize at one company. After years of attempt at opening dialogue with Target Corporation, one day before the second strike of retail janitors executives of the company opened dialogue with CTUL and retail janitors who work for companies cleaning Target stores in the Twin Cities metro area. The first retail janitorial company in the Twin Cities signed an agreement recognizing workers rights to organize - Anisca. CTUL became the first community organization to be able to represent low-wage workers in OSHA proceedings as the personal representative of workers. In addition, CTUL has partnered with Minnesota OSHA to enforce a little known statute protecting the rights of workers to form health and safety committees in their workplaces.

Strike 1: February 2013

11 retail janitors from three different companies participated in a one-day unfair labor practice strike, leading a huge picket line in front of Targets hub store in downtown Minneapolis. CTUL coordinated this action as part of a week of action together with Minnesotans for a Fair Economy (MFE). The strike was covered by MPR, Pioneer Press, Star Tribune, and several local television stations.

Strike 2: July 2013

25 retail janitors from four different companies participated in a two-day unfair labor practice strike, leading picket lines in front of the Target stores in downtown Minneapolis and on Lake Street. One day before the strike, Target executives met with CTUL and agreed to open dialogue with workers after years of attempting to communicate with the company, leading to a series of meetings with workers. On the second day of the strike, one striking worker from each company went to Denver to participate in Targets annual shareholder meeting. Target executives met with workers in the first of a series of meetings. This action was also part of a week of action together with MFE.

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The strike gained significant local and national press, including an article in The Nation magazine: Approximately thirty workers from twenty-five mostly Target retailers walked off the job Monday. Throughout the day on Tuesday, around 250 protesters picketed outside Targets flagship downtown Minneapolis store. Several workers will fly to the corporations annual meeting in Denver Wednesday to talk to executives and shareholders about the reality faced by workers who clean Target stores, Striking Janitors in Minnesota Demand an End to Retaliation, The Nation, Alleen Brown, 6/12/13.

Strike 3: Black Friday, November 2013

With each strike, the number of workers participating nearly doubled with 45 retail janitors participating in this strike. Previous to the march, over 1,500 community allies signed petitions calling for a change in retail cleaning. Workers began the day with a picket line outside of the downtown Minneapolis Target store.

CTUL then joined the March to End Poverty Wages together with a coalition of organizations including: OurWalmart, TakeAction MN, SEIU, Greater MN Worker Center & MFE. Over 1,000 low-wage workers and allies from across the state marched down University Ave calling for fair wages. 26 workers and community allies participated in an act of civil disobedience, calling for an end to poverty wages in Minnesota, including CTUL member Leroy Graham who works for Diversified Maintenance Systems cleaning a Target store. The march placed the voices of low-wage workers at the forefront of the movement to raise the minimum wage in Minnesota.

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Maricela Flores, 40, started her day protesting at 5:30 a.m. along with about 150 others outside the Target on Nicollet Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. A single mother of five, she said a livable wage would be $12 to $13 an hour, compared with the $8 an hour she makes cleaning at a Target in Shakopee, where she is a contract employee. Were the workers that make Black Fridays possible, said Flores, who is from Mexico and has lived in the U.S. for 20 years. We make the holidays happen, 26 arrested in Black Friday protests over low retail wages, Pioneer Press, Raya Zimmerman, 11/29/13.
"My name is Leroy Graham and I work for Diversified Maintenance cleaning a Target store. We make very low wages and we dont have a voice on the job. So many of us have to struggle to survive. Many have to have two jobs to do it. This just creates more anxiety, depression, sickness. There is a system behind all of this. And if you need to have two jobs to survive, then something is wrong with that system. As long as we dont have a voice on the job, nothing will ever get better. If you dont say something, they will always think its ok to treat us this way. I am fighting so we can have a voice, so that we can pursue a better future. To have everyone come together under the same fight to earn a better life with better wages. We cant go backwards and forwards at the same time. This system has gone backwards for long enough with less wages and more work. We need to go forward! Everyone needs to have a voice to be able to make our jobs better. Thats what we are fighting for this Black Friday."
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Wage Theft Campaign

In 2013 CTUL partnered with hundreds of low-wage workers to recover over $700,000 in unpaid wages and damages from unscrupulous employers who did not pay workers their full wages.

Retail janitors at Diversified Maintenance systems worked with CTUL in a class action lawsuit that settled for $675,000 in back wages and damages. According to an article in the Star Tribune: The complaint alleged that certain managers made workers, mostly at five Twin Cities Target stores, punch into work on certain days using ghost employee ID cards. According to the court documents, the scheme required the janitors to clock in and sign work cards using the names of former DMS employees at least one or two days a week. The practice meant that those who worked as much as 56 to 80 hours a week received only regular pay, Janitors in some Targets win overtime settlement, Star Tribune, Dee Depass, 2/15/13.

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Community Engagement
Fiesta del Trabajador
Over 200 low-wage workers and their families gathered to celebrate CTULs sixth year anniversary.

Raise the Wage Roundtable

CTUL joined the call to Raise the Wage in Minnesota, coming out for a roundtable discussion with airport workers, U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan and others.

CTUL Second Annual Gala and Silent Auction

Hundreds of community allies came out for CTULs annual fundraiser, raising over $20,000 to continue our organizing efforts, featuring future mayor-elect Betsy Hodges as the keynote speaker

La Voz del Pueblo

CTUL members regularly participate in the weekly KFAI program, La Voz del Pueblo, bringing information about workers rights in the workplace.

El Dia de los Reyes

CTULs annual celebration of El Dia de los Reyes brought hundreds of low-wage workers together.

Pancake Breakfast
CTUL began a new tradition with our first pancake breakfast, bringing together community allies to stand together with workers in the fight for fair wages and working conditions.

CTUL Members Speak Out

In spite of ongoing threats of retaliation against workers for participating in actions to gain fair wages, fair working conditions, and the right to organize, hundreds of workers have stood up for justice, signing petitions calling for dialogue with their companies, wearing buttons to work calling for an end to poverty wages, making videos and participating in three strikes. !
My name is Maricela Flores, and I work for Carlson Building Maintenance cleaning a Target store. This is the second time I have gone on strike. This time impacted me a lot more because I knew that I was not only going on strike, I was finally going to meet with Target representatives in Denver before their shareholder meeting! I was nervous before the meeting because I was afraid they would talk to us like our supervisors talk to us mean and dismissive. When we got there, I actually got a chance to talk about all the problems me and my coworkers face cleaning their stores. It felt really good to be able to say these things outloud to people who I know can make a difference. They werent mean to us. They listened to us. I think that this was a really good step. But my working conditions are still the same. I hope that as we keep talking to Target we can begin to make some real changes at work.

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My name is Santos Rodriguez. I work at Diversified Maintenance Systems cleaning a Kmart store and my wages are terrible. I have to have two jobs to survive, and even still I have to pay my rent with one check and wait until the next to pay my bills and food. I have no health insurance or any savings. I am really worried about what will happen as I get older. Even though I am healthy now, I know I wont be forever. Thats why I have decided that I need to be a leader in this fight for fair wages and working conditions. Being a part of this makes me proud. I know that if we all join together we can win this!

My name is Emilio Miranda Rios and I work for Eurest Services cleaning a Home Depot store. With the amount that they pay, our checks can never cover the rent, food, clothes, telephone and other expenses. It limits my family and at times we have to go to the church food pantry to get food. In this struggle I have lost my fear of fighting, and now supervisors dont say anything about it because they know I have support. I dont just say that because I think it, but because Ive seen it. Each step that weve made in the struggle weve found new allies that support us because they know that all workers have rights. With CTUL Ive realized that we have rights to defend ourselves for a just cause. If we keep fighting, we will win. That is our hope.!

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My name is Blanca Jimenez and I work for Carlson Building Maintenance. I came to this country for a better life and to make my dreams come true. Where I work, my wages are low and I work very hard while others get rich off my work. All I am doing is making their dreams come true. Even though we have worked so hard for them, they still havent given us the wages and working conditions we deserve. Now we are organizing together to make our own dreams come true. We will not stop until we get what we deserve.

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My name is Rodrigo Perez and I work at Eurest cleaning a Home Depot. I have a wife and son who depend on me. I need a raise for my family. Its time for fair wages and benefits. For example, I work seven days per week and I dont have a free day to spend with my family. I want to have days to rest and be with my family. In addition, we dont have very many hours each day, so I have to work two jobs to be able to cover rent and other expenses. The companies can pay more. A lot of people are profiting off our work, while we receive poverty wages. That is why we are fighting.

My name is Enrique Barcenas and I work for Prestige Maintenance cleaning Target stores in Apple Valley. Me and another striking worker from another company, Carlson Building Maintenance, drove with some allies 15 hours without sleeping at all, to have the chance to speak with Target representatives. I was nervous because I didnt know what it would be like to meet with these people who have so much power. I didnt know if they would listen to us or what they would say to us. But once I was sitting in the meeting, I lost my fear. I realized that I was sitting across the table from some pretty powerful peoplewhich meant that I was also a powerful person. In that meeting, there were a total of four striking workers who clean 3 Target Stores and a Home Depot. We were able to tell these representatives what we and our co-workers face everyday cleaning their stores Miserable wages, work overload, and poor working conditions. At the end of the meeting, Target representatives agreed to meet again to continue our discussion. Hopefully, it will be productive and we can work together to improve wages and working conditions in the retail cleaning industry. However, until we have some concrete improvements, we will continue the struggle to get contractors to meet with us as well.

"My name is Alora DePlacito and I work for Eurest Services cleaning a Kohls store. Living with low-wages is like being in a constant flood of problems and there is no way to get above water. You're stuck. I am constantly anxious. Even though I go to college I worry that I'll never be able to pay my loans back since all the jobs are so low paying. All it takes is one little problem for life to spiral for months. I'm still trying to get back on my feet after my car broke down. I would have starved had friends not given me food. This fight made me see the bigger picture and realize that if you don't fight for better wages you're never going to get it. I have more self-confidence in my work now. I feel stronger as a person now. The job is very isolating and it's easy to listen to the wrong person. In ten years is Eurest going to pat me on the back and thank me for my hard work-No! My well-being is worth fighting for. This fight is about taking back our humanity."

My name is Celina Onofre. I work at Carlson cleaning a Target store, and I am fighting because I have no other choice. As a single mother of 4 kids, my wages are not nearly enough. Its not fair that we are making such low wages while the companies and stores are getting richer and richer off of our work. Meanwhile they dont even treat us like human beings. I want the companies to know that. I went on strike this year because as we have been seeking fair wages and benefits, our companies began to retaliate against workers. This fight has made me strong. I know that I need to be strong and an example for my kids. We will keep fighting until we win!

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Bonifacio Salinas, works for Diversified Maintenance Systems cleaning a Target store I work for Diversified cleaning the Target store in Downtown Minneapolis. I have always said that if we want to make things better, we need to stand up and fight for them. Thats what I have been doing here with my coworkers, demanding the right to organize without fear of retaliation. Thats why I went on strike and thats why I wanted to go to Targets annual shareholder meeting. I was the first person in line when I found out we had the opportunity to go to the shareholder meeting, and I was the one that got to ask the CEO a question. I asked him if he shared our vision that workers who work for contracted companies cleaning his stores should have fair wages, safe and healthy workplaces, and the right to organize without fear of retaliation. He said he did. He said we could meet with a team from Target to discuss this further. I think the impact of our strike this time was huge. We got a meeting with Target! I know its not over yet, but I think this shows that if we fight together, we can win.

We would like to thank the following organizations for your support

Endorsements of the Campaign for Justice in Retail Cleaning

F a ith -B a se d O r g a n iz a tio n s: MN Conference of United Church of Christ Workers Interfaith Network Jewish Community Action Bethany Lutheran Church Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Spirit of Truth Cherokee Park United Church Lyndale United Church of Christ St. Pauls Monastery Justice and Peace Committee Justice Commission of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and Consociates Justice and Peace Network of the Sisters of St. Francis Guardian Angels Catholic Church L a b o r O r g a n iz a tio n s : UFCW Local 1189 SEIU Local 26 AFSCME Council 5 Minneapolis Federation of Teachers United Auto Workers, Local 879 St. Paul Federation of Teachers OPEIU Local 12 AFSCME Local 3800 Twin Cities branch of the IWW C o m m u n ity O r g a n iz a tio n s : Take Action Minnesota Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy MN Immigrant Rights Action Coalition Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition Neighborhoods Organizing for Change Centro Campesino La Conexion de las Americas Minneapolis Autonomous Radical Space Opposition to War and Occupation Iraq Peace Action Coalition Sisters of Camelot Social Welfare Action Alliance S tu d e n t O r g a n iz a tio n s : Minnesota Public Interest Research Group Adelante, Macalester SDS, Macalester

Funders:
Catholic Campaign for Human Development Otto Bremer Foundation Minneapolis Foundation Surdna Foundation Ben & Jerrys Foundation Headwaters Foundation Still Aint Satisfied: A Foundation with an Attitude Common Counsel Corridors of Opportunity

Supporting Organizations and Individuals

Miller-OBrien Cummins LLC Waite House SEIU Local 284 SEIU Healthcare ISAIAH Minnesotans for a Fair Economy US Representative Keith Ellison ELCA Minneapolis Area Synod Bishop Craig Johnson State Senator Patricia Torres-Ray State Senator Jeff Hayden State Representative Sandy Pappas State Representative Jim Davnie State Representative Ray Dehn Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges Minneapolis City Council Member Elizabeth Glidden Minneapolis City Council Member Alondra Cano