May 6, 2003—Carlitos’ mother worked full time as a janitor in Los Angeles. But to make ends meet on her low wages, she cleaned houses on the weekends. So she had no time to spend with her son and, because her employer didn’t provide health insurance, she had no way to buy arthritis medicine for her own mother, Carlitos’ abuelita (“little grandmother”).
Based on the three-week janitor strike in April 2000, the children’s book ¡Sí, Se Puede! follows Carlitos’ mother, a member of SEIU Local 1877, as she fights for better wages, health insurance and justice on the job. Little Carlitos wants to help his mother during the strike, so he mobilizes the other children in his school—many of whom also are children of striking janitors—to paint signs for the workers’ rallies and marches.
The Real Fight Continues
The online exhibit coincides with actions by 100,000 SEIU Justice for Janitors campaign activists who are mobilizing for contract negotiations. In 20 cities across the country, janitors and their allies are rallying for better wages, full-time jobs and improved health insurance and pension benefits. In Washington, D.C., janitors on May 1 won a strong new five-year contract including better wages, health insurance for some part-time workers and—for the first time—paid sick days.
On April 23, members of SEIU Local 32BJ (which includes janitors and other New York City apartment building workers such as building greeters) reached a tentative agreement for a new, three-year contract with a 2.8 percent annual raise and increased employer contributions for health coverage and pensions.
Last fall, janitors in Boston went on strike for four weeks and won health care coverage and sick leave for part-time workers.
¡Sí, Se Puede! Available at The Union Shop Online
¡Sí, Se Puede!is just one of the many books for sale at The Union Shop, the AFL-CIO’s resource for a wide variety of union goods. The shop offers union-made, union pride T-shirts, hats, buttons, books and even justice-themed baby bibs. CDs, such as music from British rocker Billy Bragg and videos such as the once-blacklisted Salt of the Earth also are available online, as is union-pride gear. The Union Shop is a one-of-a-kind resource for products for working families.
If you’re in the Washington, D.C. area, be sure to visit The Union Shop, open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at 815 16th St., N.W.
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