VIENNA, Va.–A giant, inflatable rat was paraded in front of the headquarters of Navy Federal Credit Union during rush hour by members of a labor union that claims the world’s largest CU has dropped a unionized janitorial service in favor of nonunionized workers.
The rat was part of a protest organized by labor union 32BJSEIU, with protestors holding signs reading “Union Busting” and other messages, according to FFXnow.
“If they’re going to lose this job or if they’re going to get their wages lowered because they’re going to go with a non-union company, that means they’re going to have less income to put a roof over their family’s head and provide for their children,” 32BJ SEIU Executive Vice President Jaime Contreras told FFXnow. “These are people who already live paycheck to paycheck, and what Navy Federal is doing is wrong.”
The union told FFXnow Navy Federal will replace its current facility cleaning contractor, the New Jersey-based company IFS, with Stockton Maintenance Group, a non-unionized cleaning service based in West Palm Beach, Fla. — starting on July 1.
Five-Dozen Workers Affected
The move will affect 61 workers who clean offices across the credit union’s sprawling headquarters campus at 820 Follin Lane, the report said.
“The workers are already being asked to re-apply for their jobs, and even if they get rehired, they’ll be expected to work for lower pay and fewer benefits, SEIU says,” according to FFXnow. “Under their contract with IFS, which is a union affiliate of the facility services provider KBS, the workers receive sick days, health insurance and guaranteed raises every year, among other benefits, according to three women who have all worked at Navy Federal’s headquarters for about four years.”
The workers told FFXnow that losing the yearly wage increases would be especially challenging, with the cost of rent and basic goods continuing to increase.
Navy FCU Responds
In a statement to FFXnow, Navy Federal said it decided to hire Stockton Maintenance Group for cleaning services at its headquarters based on a “thorough review.
“Navy Federal Credit Union partners with a diverse range of vendors, include those staffed with a unionized workforce,” a spokesperson for the $190-billion Navy Federal said in an email to FFXnow. “The decision to transition our HQ janitorial services to Stockton Maintenance Group, was made after a thorough review of operational needs, service performance, cost and long-term strategic goals. We value all of our partners and appreciate the work of the current provider.”
