Why are wages and benefits for janitors so much lower in Houston?
A. Because of the highly competitive nature of contracted industries like janitorial services, no one building owner or cleaning company can change the system by itself. A cleaning company that tries to raise wages and benefits on its own will likely lose accounts to a competitor that pays less. A building owner who provides fair compensation to its janitors will be at a competitive disadvantage with its neighbors. As America’s largest building services union, SEIU understands the industry, the demands of the market, and the need for companies to stay competitive. In cities where janitors have formed a union with SEIU, the union works together with building owners and cleaning contractors to negotiate market-wide collective bargaining agreements that raise standards for all janitors in a given area, ensuing that the companies remain competitive. Pay and benefit increases are not implemented only when enough of the companies operating in the market have signed the master agreement to en
