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Janitors Win Back Jobs in Studio City Deal
13 Mar
Summary
- Over 100 janitors were rehired after being laid off by NBCUniversal's subcontractor.
- Unionized janitors threatened a major protest at NBCUniversal's Studio City location.
- The agreement includes back pay for the affected janitorial staff.
Over 100 janitors were rehired by NBCUniversal and its subcontractor ABM Industries at the beginning of the week, averting a large-scale protest. The janitors, who were night shift workers and described as largely Latino immigrant workers, had been laid off on Monday. These layoffs followed NBCUniversal's cancellation of its contract with ABM Industries at three key locations: 10 Universal City Plaza, the DreamWorks campus, and the Universal Studios Lot.
Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW) had organized a demonstration at Studio City's South Weddington Park. However, negotiations continued until just before the protest's scheduled start time. Union president David Huerta announced the agreement to his members, confirming the rehiring of all janitors and their entitlement to back pay. This agreement transformed the planned protest into a celebration, with union leaders expressing satisfaction that justice was served.
Union officials stated that the workers had not received adequate justification for the layoffs, with claims that a shift to day work was mentioned but no transition was offered. Huerta noted that contractual issues, including seniority, were being resolved prior to the abrupt layoffs. He characterized the situation as a "knee-jerk reaction" from NBCUniversal, thankfully resolved by reinstating the workers. The union highlighted the essential role these janitors play in maintaining the cleanliness and operational status of the studios.
