International Janitoral Cleaning Services Association News

City lays off library custodians

IJCSA — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 22:32:13 GMT

The 300 union custodians on the chopping block at O'Hare Airport because of a controversial $99 million janitorial contract are not the only maintenance workers being dumped.

Fifty-four custodians charged with cleaning Chicago Public libraries are also getting their walking papers, effective Friday.

Glenda Thomas, 47, who has worked for 17 years at the Hegewisch branch, reported to the Department of Fleet and Facilities Management on Friday morning to drop off her ID card and keys.

More at source: WLS 890AM

O’Hare Janitors Descend On Mayor’s House To Protest Looming Job Cuts

IJCSA — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 22:30:51 GMT

Union custodial workers employed by Scrub, Inc., are being pushed at O’Hare out after Emanuel awarded a new janitorial contract to United Maintenance, a non-union firm.

“I just refuse to go back to where I started. It took so long, and it was so hard to get there,” he said. “Fifteen dollars is like a lot to me, because nobody in my family never made that. I never went to college..

More at source: CBS

Extreme Cleaning: Behind the scenes at one of the most gruesome jobs in Middle Georgia

IJCSA — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 00:13:03 GMT

When WGXA reports on death and crime, viewers get the straight facts of each case, but many times the gruesome details of what goes on behind the scenes are left out.

So, what happens when a dead body is left undiscovered? And who cleans up the mess when somebody finally shows up? The answer is the extreme cleaners.

To the cleaning techs from the X-Treme Cleaners Crime & Death scene Cleaning Services, blood and guts and decomposing bodies are just a few of the hazards on the job.

In a quiet Macon neighborhood X-Treme Cleaners Branch Manager Scott Griffin suits up in full HAZMAT gear as he prepares to enter a home where the remnants of decomposed body await him.,

More at source: Fox News

Jaintorial Service Hands Out Free Turkeys To Needy Local Residents

IJCSA — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 00:11:40 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- On Monday, a local company spent the morning giving back to the community and handing out free frozen turkeys to residents just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Bestway Janitorial Services handed out 125 frozen turkeys to residents in North Nashville. Dozens of residents lined up along Buchanan Street to pick up their free Thanksgiving dinners. 2012 marked the 3rd year the company has offered up free turkeys to residents.

More at source: News Channel 5

City blames contractors for janitor job losses

IJCSA — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 00:10:15 GMT

After janitors protested job losses and pay cuts Thursday, city officials shifted the blame for the cuts onto the city's janitorial service providers.

The janitors say most of them lost their jobs and others lost most of their income in the city's recent switch to a non-union janitor service. About a dozen janitors held a small protest in front of City Hall on Thursday.

Just over a dozen workers held up banners that said, "Respect our contract" and "What do we want? Affordable healthcare." They urged the city to find a union janitorial service that could rehire them.

More at source: MV-Voice

W.W. Grainger October Sales Rose 6% on Higher Prices, Hurricane-Related Products Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/news/2012/11/12/ww-grainger-october-sales-rose-6-on-higher-prices-hurricane-related-products/#ixzz2C2ADeDQU

IJCSA — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:21:36 GMT

W.W. Grainger Inc.'s (GWW) October daily sales rose 6% from a year earlier, benefiting from higher prices and sales of hurricane-related products.

The supplier of industrial goods ranging from lighting to janitorial products has generally posted increased earnings in recent quarters, aided by growing demand from businesses and institutions, such as hospitals and schools. The company is often considered a bellwether of the U.S. economy because of the breadth of its offerings. Grainger has also expanded its global footprint through acquisitions, including the Brazilian industrial-supplies distributor AnFreixo S.A. and European fastener firm Fabory Group.

Universal Services of America Acquires RJWestmore, Inc.

IJCSA — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:20:04 GMT

Calif., Nov. 5, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Services of America, one of the largest providers of security and janitorial services in the U.S., is proud to announce that they have acquired RJWestmore, Inc. For over 20 years, RJWestmore, Inc. has been providing safety and security solutions to commercial real estate companies across the

More at source: Sacremento Bee

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/05/4962624/universal-services-of-america.html#storylink=cpy

City schools declines to contract out janitorial services

IJCSA — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:18:40 GMT

Lexington City Schools will not move forward with contracted janitorial services at this time.

The board of education made the decision Tuesday during a closed session portion of its meeting.

"The board is not interested in changing the way we currently provide custodian services," said Rick Kriesky, superintendent of Lexington City Schools.

More at source: The Dispatch

Still cleaning up from ravages of Sandy

IJCSA — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 00:07:06 GMT

The death toll on Staten Island is at 19, following the ravages of Sandy. Schools remain closed, public transportation remains seriously impacted, the Staten Island Railway and subways below 34th Street are closed, as is The Staten Island Ferry. Many businesses remain shuttered, power in many homes are still off, gas lines remain around the block, and Hurricane Sandy's astounding toll on Staten Island continues to hit home, as the death toll rises, gas becomes more scarce and tens of thousands of Staten Islanders remain without power.

More at source: Examiner

Contract for new janitor service at O’Hare criticized by powerful union boss

IJCSA — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 00:05:11 GMT

Tom Balanoff, president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1, said Scrub has been paying its 300 O’Hare employees the prevailing wage ranging from $12.05-to $15.45-an-hour, depending on seniority.

Balanoff accused United Maintenance of undercutting its competition for the five-year contract by signaling its intention to run a non-union shop.

“They’ve already informed us they would not be retaining the

More at source: Sun Times

Don't make grave mistakes when cleaning tombstones

IJCSA — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 23:12:17 GMT

CLEVELAND - When Brian Davis walks up to the tombstone of Thomas Barber, who died in 1886 at the age of 85, he knows the simple devices in his hands will make a difference.

Barber's stone tablet features a cross near the top and is covered with dirt, lichens and mold in its spot near the treeline.

Davis sprays all sides with water, scrapes off the lichens with a broad Popsicle stick and rubs on the flat surfaces of the stone with a natural-bristle brush.

"This is just water and a brush," he emphasizes, as significant dirt is removed.

He employs light, circular motions, while also making sure he doesn't lean on or put undue pressure on the marker, which has been sitting in this spot for some 125 years.

More at source: Salsbury Post

Daring window cleaner on YouTube

IJCSA — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 23:10:56 GMT

During the three-minute film he is seen to climb out of the top floor window and on to the other side of the stone balustrade, before walking around the outside of the building.

Later on he is seen doing the same thing on the level below, but this time walking along the top of the narrow windows – but again without any kind of safety equipment.

A member of staff at Loch Fyne said the incident was being dealt with internally by the restaurant chain's owners Greene King, and added that they had been in contact with the health and safety team at Bath and North East Somerset Council.

B&NES yesterday confirmed it was investigating the incident.

More at source: Bath.UK

Two fall from building while cleaning

IJCSA — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 23:09:04 GMT

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - West Lafayette police dispatchers say two people fell off a building early Thursday afternoon near Salisbury Street and Cumberland Avenue.

Dispatchers say fire crews headed to the scene around 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Westminster Village, located at 2741 N. Salisbury St.

More at source: wishtv.com

Ex-cleaner charged with stealing $3 Million Dollar Franklin bust

IJCSA — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 23:07:53 GMT

A former cleaning woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges that she stole a rare, $3 million bust of Ben Franklin from a Bryn Mawr collector's home.

Andrea Lawton, 46, of Mobile, Ala., was indicted Thursday and has been charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office with one count each of interstate transportation of stolen property and concealing stolen property.

More at source: Philly.com

Aurora bird hoarder cleaning home on his own

IJCSA — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 23:06:26 GMT

-- An Aurora homeowner who has hundreds of birds in his house is facing a massive cleanup. If he does not comply, authorities say they will take over.

Dave Skeberdis, 57, has to clean up his home in the 200-block of Shadybrook Lane and turn over hundreds of birds to animal control, Aurora officials said at a press conference Wednesday morning. They also called Skeberdis' home a nuisance.

More at source: ABC

Custodian says she lost job after complaining about work conditions

IJCSA — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 23:04:05 GMT

The seven-year employee of Jancoa Janitorial Services said she regularly cleaned the Enquirer building at Third and Elm streets downtown.

The minimum rate for janitorial workers has been raised to $9.80 an hour, but they claim their hours have been reduced so their take-home pay is flat and their workload is greater.

Business Linked to "Topless Maid" Ads Goes Up in Flames

IJCSA — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:12:49 GMT

Fire Investigators are trying to determine what caused a Sunday night fire in Studio City. The massage parlor that burned is owned by the same man who ran controversial ads for a topless maid service emblazoned on hot pink vans and parked on the street. Gordon Tokumatsu reports from Studio City for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Oct. 15, 2012.

More at source: NBC LA

Commissioners Award Janatorial Bid To Spencer

IJCSA — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:11:33 GMT

Washington County Commissioners awarded the bid for janitorial services at the Health Department to Spencer Management when they met this morning. Spencer Management was the sole bidder when bids were opened last week. Commissioner Mike Dunlap gave an update on the rental space used by the Natural Resource Service Center in the Tyler Ag Building. Commissioners estimate that $90,000 in improvements is needed to bring the building up to the renter's specifications. The current rent is approximately $600/month. Commissioners will look at ways to recoup their expenses should the repairs be made.

More at: bartesville radio

BDS janitorial employees vote to switch union representation

IJCSA — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:10:17 GMT

Following the lead of University library and janitorial workers, Brown Dining Services employees voted Thursday to switch their union representation from Service Employees International Union Local 615 to the United Service and Allied Workers of Rhode Island.USAW won by a 34-point margin in the run-off election, which was held following a close race at the end of August that resulted in a 76-73 vote for USAW. Because neither party received the required number of votes needed to win in August, the run-off was necessary.
On Sept. 28 undefined weeks before the run-off vote undefined the SEIUfiled charges with the National Labor Relations Board against the University for unfair labor practices following a series of deductions from employee paychecks at the beginning of the semester. TheSEIU contends that these over-deductions, marked as union dues, created a skewed atmosphere for the election.

More at Brown Daily Herald

Ads for topless maid services, massages rub California residents the wrong way

IJCSA — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 13:05:25 GMT

“It doesn’t project the image of the city that we think we have,” said Joy Forbes, Burbank’s assistant city manager, who has been fielding complaints. “We have a small-town feel. These types of advertising vehicles don’t reflect the image of Burbank that most people have.”

More at source: NBC News