How We Win

Airport workers in Houston began organizing with SEIU Texas to raise wages and win a voice on the job through their union in 2017. Many workers made as little as $7.25 an hour with no path to raises and no job security, job protections, or way to demand respect on the job.

In the midst of the public campaign, Mayor Sylvester Turner stood with Airport workers and raised the minimum wage at the airport to $12 in 2019 and then again in 2022, to $15 by October 1st, 2023.

In 2022 Unifi, ABM, G2, and PrimeFlight workers won their first contract that includes respect, job security and a fair process to resolve disputes, and more.
SEIU Texas Airports members have made history, but we’re not done. We will continue to fight to improve standards, wages, and benefits at the airports in Texas.

“I make just $9 an hour. It has always been a struggle to make ends meet on the poverty wages at the airport. I was evicted last year because I couldn’t afford to make rent on time. When workers like me work full-time, one job should be enough to care for our families.”

—Teresa McClatchie, Passenger Service Agent, Houston

Cabin cleaners, wheelchair attendants, and other airport workers are on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic and play a critical role in stopping infections from spreading throughout the U.S. aviation system and into cities and towns across the country. Any economic relief to the airline industry must also protect and invest in the airport workers whose health and livelihood is on the line.

Together we must tell Congress that no taxpayer dollars should go to the airline industry unless contracted airport workers are taken care of!

Learn more about steps airport workers can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19

COVID-19 Guidance for Airport Workers

Airport workers from coast to coast have proven that when we stand up for each other across our differences, we can truly change our lives. By speaking out and taking action, 155,000 airport workers have won raises and 32,000 have won a union with SEIU.

Through our union, we can win what we need to provide a good life for our families—a roof over our heads, food on our tables, paid time off, and healthcare. Learn more about SEIU’s national Airport Workers United campaign.

Learn more about SEIU’s national Airport Workers United campaign.

Airport Workers are Winning Living Wages and Union Rights

For too long, major airlines have boosted profits by creating a downward spiral of wages, benefits and professional standards for workers all while airlines rake in local and federal tax subsidies. That’s why airport workers are coming together across the country to call on airlines to support good union jobs. And WE’RE WINNING!

Janitors in Houston captured national attention in 2006 after thousands of part-time, low wage janitors went on a month-long strike to win the union and won.

In Houston —home to some of the richest corporations in the world— many of the janitors who sweep and clean Houston’s glitziest buildings live in poverty, cannot afford healthcare and earn less than $50 a day, far less than janitors in other cities.

Janitors in cities across our state have risen up to fight for a better Texas, where workers are paid fair wages, healthcare is affordable and accessible for all, and our rights on the job are respected.

“Houston janitors have fought so hard and so long to win workplace protections, a voice on the job, and guaranteed pay with fair benefits like sick days, holidays and health care. We won these and more because we stood together in our union.”

—Tania Cabrera, Janitor, Houston

Property services workers, whether they work in hospitals, airports, office buildings, or corporate campuses, are on the frontlines of the fight against the virus. Janitors are called on to deep clean and disinfect sites of known contamination. As the virus continues to spread, property service workers—many of whom are immigrants and people of color—will play an important role in limiting the impact of the disease.

Learn more about steps airport workers can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19

10 Steps to Preventing COVID-19

Houston Janitors are part of the national Justice for Janitors campaign which includes more than 160,000 union janitors in over 30 cities across North America. This dynamic campaign empowers 160,000 union janitors to win respect, at least $15 an hour and a strong union for all janitors—no matter what we look like or where we’re from.

Over the course of a 30-year movement, janitors and supporters from Portland to Los Angeles, Denver to Houston, Chicago to Washington D.C. and elsewhere, came together to build a strong nation-wide union.

So far, we have pumped more than $1 Billion back into the homes and communities of cleaners. And we aren’t done yet.

Learn more about SEIU’s Justice for Janitors national movement.

Historic! Houston Cleaning Workers Win Pathway to $12/Hour

In a historic victory for workers who clean facilities operated by Houston First Corporation, a new contract was ratified by SEIU Texas members in 2018 that will raise the minimum wage to $12 per hour, from the current rate of $9.35, for roughly 100 employees by January 2021. Houston First Corporation is a local government corporation that operates the George R. Brown Convention Center as well as local arts facilities like Jones Hall, the Wortham Center and Miller Outdoor Theater.

Healthcare workers are facing greater workplace demands while being paid stagnant wages. With the skyrocketing cost of living in Texas, healthcare workers are struggling to provide the basics for our families. We are the backbone of our healthcare community and deserve to be paid a living wage, have access to affordable medical and retirement benefits, and work at hospitals that treat employees with respect.

SEIU Texas healthcare members are a united voice for quality care and good jobs across our state. We represent a wide range of frontline care workers who are building better hospitals and health centers so that all families have access to affordable, quality care. Currently, our union represents Hospital Corporation of America workers in El Paso and Corpus Christi as well as El Paso workers at The Hospitals of Providence Memorial Campus and the University Medical Center of El Paso.

“It takes a dedicated team of staff, like my co-workers in environmental services, to care for our patients every day. It’s not just doctors and nurses. We need to finally recognize these unsung heroes and treat them with the respect and dignity they deserve. And that starts with putting them on the path to $15 an hour so they can afford to care for themselves and their families.”

—Raul Garcia, Vascular Access RN, El Paso

Healthcare workers are on the frontlines of the coronavirus and doing everything we can to keep patients and communities safe. But we don’t have the protective supplies or tests we need.

Help to Protect ALL healthcare workers and demand the Trump administration and corporations ACT NOW to make sure healthcare workers in Texas and across the nation have the supplies and tests needed to ensure the safety of all working families—Black, white and brown.

Together we can keep healthcare workers and patients safe.

SEIU believes that all people —Black, white and brown— should have access to quality, affordable healthcare and long term care. That no one should have to hesitate in the hospital parking lot worrying that they won’t be able to pay the bill. That no family should have to spend their entire life savings on long-term care for a parent or loved one. And that working people who deliver care should earn fair wages and have the opportunity to join a union.

That’s why we’re fighting for affordable healthcare we all can count on and a healthcare system that works for all of us.

Learn more about how we’re changing the future of healthcare.

SEIU TX Members at Providence Memorial Hospital El Paso Win Higher Wages

Recently, employees at Providence Memorial Hospital of El Paso overwhelmingly ratified their third three-year agreement with hospital management. The contract protects workers while ensuring patients continue to receive the highest quality care possible.

The agreement raises wages by 6.75% over three years and raises the minimum wage to $11.00 on October of 2020 for workers at the bottom of the pay scale, protects healthcare benefits, and provides new protection for employees who may rest at home after contracting an infectious diseases, like the flu, while on the job.

The contract extends to almost 450 employees represented by SEIU Texas. Employees include service and technical workers that perform a wide range of jobs, including EMT’s, Surgical Technicians, Pharmacy Technicians, Certified Nurse Assistants, X-ray Technicians, and Respiratory Therapists.

In June 2019, contracted municipal security officers joined together in SEIU Texas and won the first security officer union in Texas. The people who protect our public buildings deserve to work with dignity and respect.

That’s why we’re uniting with residents across the City of Houston to demand city officials only hire responsible service contractors who provide good wages, quality training, stability in employment and benefits that enable workers to build our lives, provide for our families, and contribute to our communities.

Security officers across our state are fighting for respect, a voice on the job, better pay, workplace training and higher professional standards.

“When I heard that SEIU TX was helping my co-workers to organize into a union, I knew that’s where I needed to be. To this day, I am proud of where my co-workers and I have come. It was hard. But we finally got our union with SEIU Texas in 2019.”

—Sandra Handy, Security Officer, Houston

The coronavirus (COVID-19) has the potential to affect all communities, regardless of race of ethnic background. As frontline responders, security officers keep office buildings, hospitals, schools, libraries, businesses, parks and more safe each and every day, and are putting our health at risk to protect our families and our communities during this medical emergency.

Learn more about steps security officers can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19

10 Steps to Preventing COVID-19

SEIU, with more than 70,000 security officers, is the nation’s largest security officers union.

Our goal is to raise our industry’s standards by increasing professionalism and training, improving wages and benefits, and developing career opportunities for security officers.

Through our national, community-based campaign–Stand for Security–we work in collaboration with fellow security officers, building owners, responsible security providers, faith leaders, community supporters, and elected officials across the country in order to bring good jobs to our communities and increased safety and protection to those we serve.

Learn how SEIU is uniting security officers across the country to win on the job.

Security Officers Make History in Houston

On June 19, 2019, 64 percent of contracted security officers with the city of Houston came together to win their union, and they won! When workers stand together, we win better protections, better benefits, better pay, better working conditions and a better quality of life for everyone. This win is just the beginning. We’ll continue to ride this rising tide and raise the standard for all security officers in Texas.

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How We Win

Airport Workers United

Learn more about steps airport workers can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19

Airport Workers are Winning Living Wages and Union Rights

Justice for Janitors

Learn more about steps airport workers can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19

Historic! Houston Cleaning Workers Win Pathway to $12/Hour

Healthcare for All

SEIU TX Members at Providence Memorial Hospital El Paso Win Higher Wages

Stand for Security

Learn more about steps security officers can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19

Security Officers Make History in Houston

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