Janitors union in the works, SEIU says

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/business/stories/2007/06/06/SEIU.ART_ART_06-06-07_C8_5A6U8L2.html

Contract talks
Janitors union in the works, SEIU says
Wednesday, June 6, 2007 3:30 AM
By Paul Wilson
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

An effort to organize central Ohio janitors has been successful and contract negotiations with their employers are expected to begin this week, officials from the Service Employees International Union said.

But some targeted companies think that's premature and said the union hasn't shown it represents enough central Ohio janitors to engage in collective bargaining.

"I do believe they'll get there," said Paul Greenland, president of Columbus-based Aetna Building Maintenance. "But they've not proved to me they're at 60 percent."

To begin talks, the SEIU must show it represents workers who clean at least 60 percent of commercial offices in Franklin County, Greenland said. His hourly workers have aligned with the SEIU, but he said he has not seen evidence that workers at enough other janitorial companies in the area have done so.

No government body oversees efforts to organize workers, said Marcus Sandver, professor of management and human resources at Ohio State University. The National Labor Relations Board intervenes only if employees allege unfair labor practices. Once a contract is agreed upon, a copy is sent to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Sometimes, arbiters are used to ensure enough workers voted to organize, but none was used in this case, the SEIU said.

FULL story at link.