Union workers and their supporters march for workers' rights
About 200 janitors, security officers and other groups marched for workers' rights on Saturday in Northeast Minneapolis.
Members of SEIU, Local 26, blocked traffic on Central Avenue for more than an hour during the demonstration. The union will begin contract negotiations soon for cleaning and security jobs.
Kevin Chavis, a security officer for Allied Barton Security services, was one of the demonstrators. He says the union will ask for a better hourly wage.
"We would like to see a living wage. We're part of the 15-NOW Coalition, so we're asking for $15 or more. (For) security officers in the suburbs starting wage is $10 an hour, that's just above minimum wage now in Minnesota. And in Minneapolis and St. Paul it's $12.50 an hour, so we're trying to bring those wages back up."
The state's minimum wage ranges is $7.25 per hour for small employers and $9 per hour for large employers.
The environmental group MN350 and Neighborhoods Organizing for Change also joined the march.
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