Toledo janitors rally for pay raise in contract talks

Union members march on Madison Avenue to support wages in line with those in other cities.

More than 200 unionized janitors demonstrated outside downtown Toledo businesses yesterday in support of workers represented by Service Employees International Union Local 3.

The union and companies that provide cleaning services for commercial office buildings in downtown Toledo and its suburbs are in negotiations on a new labor contract covering about 800 janitors.

The current four-year contract expires at midnight Saturday night. However, the union and the companies have agreed to a 30-day extension. No meetings are planned for this week.

Anton Farmby, director of Local 3, said the focus is to bring the hourly wages in line with those of janitors in Detroit, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh.

The union members, who are paid $8.50 to $9 an hour, are employed by Advance Cleaning Contractors Inc., Holland Inc., Kellermeyer Building Services, and Toledo Building Services.