Members of the labor union 32BJ SEIU (Service Employees International Union) say they are fighting to join the middle class.
"We’re fighting for our families. We’re fighting for our wages. We’re fighting to be in the middle class," said union member Juanita Acree. She noted this union is comprised of service workers like parking lot attendants, security guards and janitors who work in Center City buildings.
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According to the union, this is the largest instance of private sector contract negotiations in the country, affecting nearly a half-million people.
"Cleaning up after people with so much money, they don’t seem to know what to do with it," he said. "And then they go back to their neighborhoods being gentrified, being shot up, and all they’re asking for is the chance to provide for their families and their chance of making it to the middle class."
Virginia Carrington has worked as a janitor in Center City for 33 years.
"They want to take our pensions away from us. They want us to pay for our own health care. That’s our biggest issue," she explained. "Each year the bills go up, and guess what? I’m not getting any more money. So if I don’t get any more money and I’m supposed to pay for my health care, how am I supposed to survive?"
Alisa Johnson, who works as an office cleaner, echoed that Philadelphia should not just be for the rich.
"We live here too," she said, "and we deserve all the things that we need."