PORTLAND, Ore. – Today, labor organizations are honoring America's custodians with Justice for Janitors Day, a recognition of their struggle for fair wages and a safe working environment. In Oregon, the Service Employees International Union Local 49 has released a report on how a new state law could clean up the janitorial industry.

Workers in the industry are routinely subjected to harassment and exploitation. But starting July 1, contractors will have to obtain a license from the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries and train workers in abuse prevention.

Report author Jeremy Simer, a researcher with SEIU Local 49, says building owners and property managers will also be accountable under this law.

"The state law is now holding both janitorial contractors and their customers responsible for cleaning up the industry and making sure that janitors doing this hard work, often for low pay, that their rights are respected, that they're paid fairly and they're not subjected to sexual harassment or discrimination," says Simer.

The report highlights janitorial contractors that have been charged with wage theft and workplace safety abuses. Under the new law, BOLI can fine anyone who uses unlicensed companies up to $2,000. Building owners and property managers can be held liable for contractor abuses as well.

Simer says owners and managers can use SEIU's contractors guide to find companies that are following responsible contracting practices.

Simer says contractors put workers in dangerous positions because they feel like they can get away with it, especially with vulnerable populations who don't speak English as a first language.

That was the case with Elisenda Tavera, a porter with Millennium Building Services in Portland. She was asked to empty the trash in a construction zone where safety gear was required. When Tavera told her supervisor she didn't have the right equipment, he said she needed to figure it out or threatened to come down to her workplace.

Tavera, speaking through a translator, says she reported this to human resources at her company, but they took the supervisor's side.

"'Just be patient with the supervisor. Supervisors are under a lot of stress.' I felt unprotected and I just didn't know where else to turn after hearing that answer from HR," says Tavera.

Tavera says she's also been hurt on the job and denied sick days. She's lodged a complaint with BOLI over this.

Sexual harassment also is an issue. Simer says the "Me Too" movement has focused on movie stars and government officials, which is important, but adds that this conversation isn't confined to high-profile professions.

"Sexual harassment and assault hurts people in every industry, but it's people like janitors and people in low-wage jobs that aren't heard from as much," says Smmer.


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The Nebraska Legislature is considering a bill to roll back a 2022 voter approved initiative that would raise the minimum wage in the state.

Business groups say the bill would create hardships for small companies.

Legislative Bill 258 would undo the voter-passed measure, which would raise the hourly minimum wage by a $1.50 until it reaches $15 in 2026.

LB 258 would also create a lower minimum wage for 14 and 15-year-old workers.

Nebraska Appleseed Economic Justice Director Ken Smith said the bill would make it harder for Nebraska working families already struggling to make ends meet.

"This is coming from a group of business interests who did not oppose the initiative when they had the chance to oppose the initiative," said Smith, "and instead of doing that are trying to use the Legislature as a means of rolling back these increases."

The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Jane Raybould, D-Lincoln, whose family owns a series of small grocery and convenience stores.

Raybould resigned her post as company vice president the day debate began on LB 258. She filed a conflict of interest statement earlier this session.

Supporters of the bill say increasing the minimum wage makes it harder on their bottom line, but Smith countered that higher minimum wages in other states have proven benefits outweigh those concerns.

"There are business benefits to having a more productive workforce," said Smith. "There are business benefits to having lower employee turnover, and there are benefits to having consumers with more buying power."

Three hundred businesses across the state approved the 2022 initiative to raise the minimum wage. The bill awaits action in committee.




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A Montana legislative committee this week heard a bill to revise workers' compensation laws. Among opponents were workers who have navigated the system themselves. If a Montana worker were to get hurt on the job today, law requires insurance providers defer to the person's "treating physician." But Senate Bill 345 would remove that policy.

Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, says that helps insurers get the "best available evidence."

Amanda Frickle, political director of Montana AFL- CIO, a state federation of unions, said workers' compensation claims and cases are "meant to be deliberative."

"This bill is fundamentally tipping the scales against the injured worker and in favor of the insurance company when it comes to these workers' compensation claims," she said.

The bill would allow insurers to require an independent medical examination from a provider of the company's choosing, even if that means someone out-of-state. In that case, the insurer would cover expenses such as travel, lodging and child care. But opponents say travel is not conducive to healing.

Niki Zupanic, owner of the Montana Trial Lawyers Association, says that adds to workers' up-front costs.

"Many of these costs, whether or not they will eventually be reimbursed, are likely to be coming out of pocket ahead of time from the injured worker, while they're also working most likely reduced hours and trying to juggle other expenses with their families," she explained.

According to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, of all Montanans covered by a workers' comp policy, about 4% report an injury in a given year, or 23,000 people.

South Dakota's new governor is making an active pitch regarding economic opportunities for the state. The renewable-energy sector said it continues to build a strong case, including manufacturing jobs.

Gov. Larry Rhoden spent much of March crisscrossing South Dakota on his "Open for Opportunity" tour to hear about promising development, workforce needs and trade issues. It has not received a visit yet but officials with the Marmen Energy plant in Brandon said they are keeping busy. Nearly 300 people there construct towers to hold turbines for wind energy.

Dan Lueders, plant manager for Marmen Energy, called it the very definition of "American-made" products.

"It's fully American made with American steel," Lueders explained. "We're contributing to the American independence on energy and also providing good-paying manufacturing jobs."

The Clean Grid Alliance said the plant produces roughly 1,000 tower sections each year for shipment throughout the upper Midwest. Lueders noted with data centers and other factors driving up electricity demand, he sees more opportunities for his operation. Nationally, enthusiasm has been somewhat dampened by the Trump administration's push to roll back renewable-energy funding, with a stated desire to focus more on fossil fuels.

But utilities are increasingly turning to renewables to diversify their output as demand spikes.

Waylon Brown, president of Rushmore State Renewables and regional policy manager for Clean Grid Alliance, said if South Dakota keeps the welcome mat out for wind and solar development, other industries will want to set up shop here.

"They're looking for nearby energy generation when deciding what states to do business in," Brown pointed out.

In addition to the manufacturing upside, the Energy Information Administration said South Dakota ranks second nationally for wind energy generation. Brown said, for example, having a healthy power supply could be attractive to the health care sector, noting advancement in medical technology is one of the many other things requiring more energy use.