Janitors in Detroit are celebrating because they have made significant wins in their union contract.

In their new contract, Detroit Janitors, members of SEIU Local 1, kept their strong healthcare and pension, won 5 paid COVID sick days for vaccinated employees, stronger PPE language, and Juneteenth as a paid holiday.

Along with all those wins, Detroit Janitors also won big raises. They won some of the biggest wage increases they have ever seen. Including:

• For DPS custodians, their new hire start rate went from $11.25/hr in early 2022 to $15.30 starting January 1, 2023. This is a 36% increase!
• Newly hired DPS custodians would be starting at $15.30 in the first year of the contract and going up to $17.90 in the 3rd (and final) year of the contract!
• More senior employees who have been around for 3 or more years on January 1st, 2023 will go from $15.30 to $16.30, which is an entire dollar increase in the first year, and a total increase of $2.60/hr over the course of the 3-year agreement.

These wins put millions of dollars into the pockets of these Detroit members and their communities. When Janitors win, we all win!