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On October 15, workers will rally in countless cities across the world in support of economic justice following years of a declining standards of living, mortgage foreclosures, shrinking pensions and reduced savings. As workers and their families find themselves more and more at risk, they are standing up and fighting back. As FNV Bondgenoten cleaners in Holland said in their brillant cleaners' campaign: "Schoon Genoeg!" or "Enough is Enough!"



Union janitors in SEIU Local 1, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, took to the streets on September 28. Their demands for fair wages, affordable health care and full-time, family-sustaining jobs for their communities are an example of the demands of workers in America and across the globe. Workers spoke eloquently: Urszula Domaradzki, a Chicago janitor for 25 years commented on today’s actions: “Too many workers in our community and across the country are working hard every day but are not able to make ends meet. That’s why I’m here, to speak out for good jobs for our communities”.



Maria Sada, a Milwaukee janitor, says: “We’re here today because these were good jobs and now they are gone. We need to protect and defend what we as union janitors have fought for: good jobs with benefits. We shouldn’t be replacing jobs that created a path to the middle class with low-wage, no benefit jobs”.



Sandra Ellington, a Cleveland janitor, agrees: “Poverty and unemployment have taken away the American dream … the home, kids in college, money in the bank. It has destroyed the hope of a better tomorrow. In our community, I have seen families walk away from homes they have occupied for years. I’ve seen children begging on street corners so they can feed themselves. Good jobs that provide decent wages, benefits and a voice at work can stop poverty and make our community stronger”. www.seiu1.org