Medford City Council Approves New Protections For Contracted Workers

MEDFORD, MA — The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a new ordinance that would provide higher pay standards and additional job protections for janitorial and security workers employed through city building service contracts.

The Medford Standard Compensation Ordinance, introduced by Council President Zac Bears, passed by a 7-0 vote after months of discussion at City Hall. Supporters say the measure is intended to bring compensation for contracted building service workers closer to industry standards while preventing workers from losing their jobs when the city changes contractors.

One of the ordinance's central provisions would require any company taking over a city building service contract to retain employees of the previous contractor for at least 90 days. Currently, there is no local requirement that a new contractor keep workers already employed at a city building.

The ordinance would also require contractors and subcontractors working in city facilities to provide wages and benefits consistent with prevailing standards for comparable work performed in Boston. It includes a labor peace provision designed to reduce the likelihood of service disruptions caused by labor disputes.

The issue has been under discussion in Medford since last summer, when the city transitioned cleaning services at Medford High School and McGlynn Middle School to a new contractor. According to SEIU Local 32BJ, the union representing the workers, 14 incumbent cleaners were not rehired after Partner Facility Solutions took over the contract.

That contractor change sparked an ongoing labor dispute that has since drawn national attention. The union filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board alleging the company declined to hire the incumbent workers in order to avoid recognizing and bargaining with the union. In May, the NLRB issued a complaint related to those allegations. The case remains pending and no final determination has been made.

Labor advocates and affected workers pointed to that transition as evidence that stronger protections were needed when city contracts change hands.

Following Tuesday's vote, SEIU Local 32BJ officials praised the council's decision, arguing that the ordinance will help provide stability for workers and prevent future disruptions caused by contractor transitions.

Supporters also argued that retaining experienced workers benefits both employees and the city by maintaining continuity in public buildings and reducing turnover among custodial and security staff.

The measure makes Medford the latest Massachusetts municipality to consider protections for building service workers during contractor transitions. Similar policies have been adopted in neighboring Boston and Cambridge, though no comparable requirement currently exists statewide.

The ordinance now heads to Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn, who will decide whether to sign the measure into law.

"We heard concerns from workers and residents about what happens when city contracts change hands and experienced employees suddenly lose their jobs," Bears said in a statement following the vote. "This ordinance is intended to provide stability for workers while ensuring continuity of service in city buildings."

If signed by the mayor, the ordinance would take effect and apply to future city building service contracts and contractor transitions.

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