COVID-19
Janitors
Speak
Out
It is now more clear than ever that SEIU members across the board are essential to providing services our society depends on.
Many SEIU members, including janitors, are on the front lines of the Coronavirus pandemic and play a critical role in stopping infections from spreading.
Read their stories. #ProtectALLWorkers
Maria Barretto
It's not just about money, it's about life. This situation has burdened us with extra costs. We are risking our lives, but it seems like they aren't appreciating it.
Janitor, Toronto
Janitor, Toronto
Take Action: invisible to essential
Roselyn Cabunilas
We are frontline and put at that level of risk everyday as we clean after vulnerable people who are at the highest risk of contracting the virus
Janitor, Toronto
Janitor, Toronto
Read Rosely's Story
Luisito Tadlip
Our work as janitors is important because they can’t control the spread of the virus without us.
Janitor, Vancouver
Janitor, Vancouver
Read Luisito's Story
Cherish Lazo
If we are not there, who is going to help the residents? Who is going to sanitize and disinfect everything?
Janitor & Resident Care Assistant, Vancouver
Janitor & Resident Care Assistant, Vancouver
Read Cherish's Story
Stanley Maranion
The government should give us more protections such as completely freezing the rent of our houses. With this crisis, if we are laid off, how are we going to pay our rent?
Janitor, Vancouver
Janitor, Vancouver
Read Stanley's Story
Grace Williams
Of course we have always been essential workers. We help keep the city clean. Thousands of people use the subway, if we didn’t clean it would be a mess.
Janitor, Toronto
Janitor, Toronto
Take Action: invisible to essential
Harjit Sahota
If the company goes against the rules, we have a union to fight.
Janitor, Toronto
Janitor, Toronto
Read Harjit's Story
Maria Aviles
I think we are putting ourselves at risk cleaning public areas. They should respect us more
Janitor, Toronto
Janitor, Toronto
Read Maria's Story
Natalie Guiteaud
Who picks up their discarded, contaminated gloves at the end of the day? Who wipes and decontaminates all surfaces in rooms and washrooms?
Janitor, Ottawa
Janitor, Ottawa
Read Natalie's Story
Adaego Akor
The public tries to avoid touching potentially contaminating surfaces. We janitors are asked to do the opposite. To clean them to help keep everyone safe!
Janitor, Ottawa
Janitor, Ottawa
Read Adaego's Story
Jules Samuel
We are cleaning the buses that carry all the essential workers.
Janitor, Toronto
Janitor, Toronto
Take Action: invisible to essential
Slim Gedeon
People say that we are important but do they really treat us that way? We should be getting higher pay
Janitor, Ottawa
Janitor, Ottawa
Read Slim's Story
Ron Desbiens
If it wasn't for the union I don't know where we would be. Without the union companies would take advantage of the situation.
Janitor, Toronto
Janitor, Toronto
Take Action: invisible to essential
Olga De Cruz
We have always been there protecting people, we have always been on the frontline against illness
Janitor, Toronto
Janitor, Toronto
Read Olga's Story
Regilyn Malaguit
You’re nobody, you can get sick and be nothing. I’m still a wife, still a mother, still a daughter. With all that’s going on there’s still no respect.
Hotel Worker, Toronto
Hotel Worker, Toronto
Read Regilyn's Story
Carlos Toledo
One is following the recommendations of the government but feels economically stressed. There is not enough help and it feels unjust
Janitor, Toronto
Janitor, Toronto
Read Carlos' Story
Vilma Lopez
We should be given some recognition for taking this risk by at least increasing our wages
Janitor, Burnaby
Janitor, Burnaby
Read Vilma's Story