Dozens of janitors at Los Angeles International Airport threatened Tuesday to strike, hoping to fight proposed cuts in healthcare and other benefits.
SEIU-USWW spokesman Jacob Hay said the janitors are "not messing around here -- they're upset about the way they've been treated."
He said the subcontractors have proposed cutting not only the janitors' healthcare benefits, but also reducing their paid holidays and sick days.
He said a strike -- if the union's chief negotiators decide to call it -- would have an impact on Fourth of July travel because the janitors are assigned to clean the terminal areas controlled by United and American airlines, and also parts of Terminal 2.
"The company I work for is trying to cut healthcare for me and my family," said Juan Martinez, a janitor in LAX Terminal 4 and member of the Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West.
"Janitors are coming together to fight for our jobs and our families, but instead of working with us, our bosses tried to silence and intimidate us," he charged.
Martinez is among 130 janitors working for ABM, AirServ and Flagship -- all subcontractors to United and American airlines, and to the international carriers in LAX Terminal 2 -- in the midst of negotiations for a new contract.
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Their current contract expires Wednesday.
Some of them are also assigned to clean planes in between flights.
The next round of talks is scheduled for Wednesday. Hay said if the negotiations break down, janitors are ready to walk out.
Still, he added, "The janitors are hopeful that it won't come to that -- that the contractors will come to the bargaining table in a responsible way."
LAX media relations representatives did not immediately return a call seeking comment on the issue.
