Union for Decatur school custodians delivers intent to strike

DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — Custodians at the Decatur School District may go on strike next month.

Custodians delivered their 10-day strike notice at the Board of Education meeting Tuesday evening. They have been at the negotiation table bargaining for wage increases since February.

Workers have spoken at several Board of Education meetings this year about how being underpaid affects them and their families.

“When I got this job, it was a blessing to me,” Amanda Francis, who has worked at the district for 6 years, said at the Tuesday meeting. “I was so grateful because I knew then I could take care of myself and my child… And it scares me and it bothers me that may not be possible.”

Francis also said the board offering only a two-year contract for the custodians gives the workers much uncertainty.

The 80 custodians are represented by SEIU Local 73.

“The leaders of this district have repeatedly shown a lack of respect for these essential custodians,” Joseph Richert, the Secretary-Treasurer of SEIU Local 73, said in a news release. “During the challenges of the pandemic, the custodial staff worked hard to keep the schools safe and clean. It’s crucial that they are given the recognition and fair pay they deserve for their hard work.”

The Decatur School District provided the following statement to WCIA:

“District administration and our negotiation team continue to work with the custodial union group, SEIU-A, in good faith, to reach a fair and equitable agreement for a new contract. Our goal remains to provide a positive outcome that benefits our custodial staff while being fiscally responsible to our community stakeholders.”

Decatur Public Schools #61

The earliest day the custodians could strike is Sept. 9. Before then, the union has two more bargaining sessions scheduled with the school district and a federal mediator on Aug. 29 and Sept. 4.

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