The workers staged a demonstration this week with union leaders, supporters and a Mariachi band to call attention to their grievances.
A handful of Cocowalk janitors, union leaders, and their supporters demonstrated late Tuesday afternoon in downtown Coconut Grove to protest what they described as unfair labor practices by the cleaning company that employs them.
The janitors, who have met with organizers from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), say they have been interrogated, surveilled, and intimidated by AK Building Services of Fort Lauderdale because of their organizing efforts.
The company’s owner and CEO refuted those claims, saying the cleaning service values its employees and promotes a workplace culture that is respectful, transparent, and professional.
The workers rallied at the corner of Grand Avenue and Virginia Street with picket signs and a Mariachi band to call out the company’s alleged behavior – and to highlight what they say are poor working conditions: low pay, no benefits, and dirty uniforms.
“Cocowalk is one of the richest malls in the city,” said Andy Cabrera, district leader of SEIU Local 32BJ. “And we have the company that cleans CocoWalk essentially trying to silence workers, intimidating, interrogating, surveilling them, videotaping them when they’re off the clock having conversations with folks who are in the union.”
Cabrera said four of the seven janitorial workers at Cocowalk joined Tuesday’s rally.
“This is America,” he said. “You have the right to organize in this country. You have the right to try to better work conditions.”
Shari Cedar, the chief executive officer of AK Building Services, said the majority her employees aren’t looking to organize. She accused the union of harassment.
“Over the past three years, SEIU Local 32BJ has engaged in false, disparaging, and disruptive actions in an effort to pressure AK Building Services into unionizing, despite a clear and consistent lack of employee support for such efforts,” Cedar said.
“Our employees have consistently expressed no interest in union representation. They receive competitive wages, along with open, direct communication with both management and ownership.”
