University of Miami 2006 Custodial Workers' Strike - Resolution of Strike

Resolution of Strike

On May 1, 2006, it was announced that UNICCO and the SEIU had reached an agreement that an independent third party would determine whether a supermajority of workers, defined as 60%, wish to unionize. The agreement establishes a code of conduct governing how both the employer and the union will interact with the workers during the process. Both sides agreed not to interfere with the workers' decision on whether or not to form a union. Provisions included:

• A neutral, independent organization, the American Arbitration Association (AAA), was selected to verify the voting results to determine whether or not a supermajority of UNICCO custodians at UM wish to form a union.

• Under the agreement, if AAA independently verified that a supermajority of 60% of the custodians working for UNICCO have signed cards saying they want to form a union with SEIU, UNICCO agreed to recognize (on the very same day) SEIU as the custodians' union.

• Custodians have until August 1, 2006 to demonstrate a supermajority.

• The agreement covered 410 custodians working for UNICCO on the UM campus and that of UM's Jackson Memorial Hospital.

• The striking custodians would return to work Wednesday, May 3, 2006.

• Zoila Mursuli, a custodian union leader who had been fired by UNICCO, would be reinstated immediately. She was provided back pay for the weeks after she was fired before her co-workers went on strike.