Janitors rally in Schaumburg ahead of contract talks

Nearly 200 janitors arrived by school buses in Schaumburg on Thursday to rally the start of contract negotiations with local cleaning contractors.

Another purpose for the march was to urge banks to use federal bailout money for job creation, not for cushioning executive salaries.

With a parade atmosphere complete with drums, horns and purple banners reading "Value Work," members of SEIU Local 1, marched from an office building at 1701 E. Woodfield Road to the Fifth Third Bank building across the street. Participants stood in the building's lobby areas chanting before tenants asked them to leave without incident.

"We're here to show that we're important in this economy too," said Alexandra Figus, who has worked as a janitor for 29 years. "We have families and homes. Our homes are going into foreclosure. I'm a mother. I have a family. That's why I'm here. We need job security," said Figus, 53, of Palos Hills.

The contract talks that started Tuesday involve janitors who work in office buildings in Chicago, Schaumburg, Downers Grove, Oak Brook and other suburbs. Of the 15,000 in the union, 3,000 are from the suburbs.

Organizers of the event said it was a success. "I think we made a statement that we don't think what they're doing is right in the banking industry," said Erica Hade, communications director for SEIU Local 1.