Protest at Cisco Systems
By Osvaldo Castillo
Many throughout the U.S. have lost their jobs due to the current economic recession. At Cisco Systems, the janitorial workforce has been cut by over fifty percent, according to the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1877. The massive lay off has resulted in approximately 75 families losing their main source of income. On March 12, janitors and their supporters protested and demanded that the laid off workers be brought back to work.
"We want workers to return because the quality of these services will not be the same with less people," said Denis Solis, Bay Area janitorial director for the Service Employees International Union Local 1877.
Maria G. Lopez, a janitor at Cisco, said the workload has become more than most could handle since the layoffs.
"Before, three janitors would clean a four story building," Lopez said. "Now only two janitors clean a four story building."
The workers who have remained have also reported an increased risk to their health and safety. According to the Service Employees International Union Local 1877, the janitors were told to clean bathrooms without soap or other supplies. Each toilet seat carries over 100 rotavirus, fecal coli forms and parasite germs per inch and release a six-foot plume of bacteria when flushed.
Cisco does not directly hire people for janitorial services. The janitors are employed by American Building Maintenance, which provides janitorial services for Cisco Systems.
In a statement released by the Cisco Systems, "The company greatly sympathizes with union members who have been impacted by the current economic uncertainty.  While these individuals are not directly employed by Cisco, we have worked closely with our janitorial service provider to ensure that impacted workers are treated fairly and that the number of workers impacted is minimized as much as possible."
However, the Services Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1877 does not believe the current economic recession has affected Cisco the way it has other companies. According to the union, Cisco Systems has faced only minimal layoff of their own employees. It has $29 billion cash on hand and CEO John Chambers has publicly stated that the company will emerge from the current recession in a stronger position than ever.
"Look around! Cisco hasn't closed any buildings," said Maria G. Lopez. "In fact, Cisco is actually expanding."
Janitors and union officials vow to keep fighting until the recently laid off workers were rehired, and Cisco will "continue to work closely with union officials to ensure that any demonstrations are conducted lawfully."