Essex County Janitors Get $600K Check, Celebrate Union-Backed Settlement

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Moral victories are important when you’re a janitor struggling to make ends meet. But sometimes a big, fat check doesn’t hurt, either.

A group of 36 former office cleaners “unfairly fired” from their jobs at Eastern Essential Services in 2014 marked a milestone on Monday when they received their first installment check for $600,000 in back salary, paid out as part of a settlement agreement with the Fairfield-based company.

In May of 2016, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) upheld an earlier ruling that awarded the employees back pay and the return of their jobs after Eastern Essential Services allegedly fired them because they belonged to a labor union.

The NLRB case history can be seen online here.

SEIU 32BJ, the union representing the workers, issued the following statement about the case:

“The formerly displaced janitors lost their jobs in 2014 when a new contractor, Eastern Essential Services or EES, refused to hire them because of their union affiliation. 32BJ filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board who later found that Eastern Essential Services had broken the law and ordered the contractor to offer the 36 workers their jobs back and give them retroactive pay. Most of office cleaners went back to work in September of 2015. But their journey for justice wasn’t over yet. The fight for back pay took another two years.”

• See related article: NLRB Rules Against Essex County Company

“It’s so gratifying to receive this check today because it’s a symbol of our solidarity and perseverance,” said Luz Orozco, an office cleaner and member of 32BJ. “We marched, rallied and leafletted for 14 months and never gave up despite the odds.”

“This was a long battle but well worth it because these hardworking men and women have achieved an incredible victory,” said Kevin Brown, 32BJ vice president and NJ state director. “Not only did they win their jobs back at union pay and benefits, today the janitors received their first installment check… a testament of their strength and commitment to stand up for themselves.”

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• See related article: Newark Workers Allegedly Fired For Union Activity Reach Settlement

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Photo: 32BJ