Explore Documents – Memory Work

Black and white flyer reads "CODIL - Asamblea General. Fecha: Sabado 3 de Junio 1978; Hora: 3:30pm; Lugar: Colegio de Leyes del Pueblo 2228 W. 7th St. frente al parque Mc Arthur cerca de Alvarado st. - Agenda - Invitados; Presentación sobre las recientes victorias contra la migra, por los obreros de Pat & Sons y Sibicca; Sobre la formación de los Comités Contra La Migra -- fuera la migration de las fabricas" At the bottom, CODIL's address is listed as 1523 E. Brooklyn Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90033

After successfully halting the deportation of over 100 shoeworkers at the Sbicca shoe factory in El Monte, activists called for meeting to recruit more factory committees. Courtesy of the Department of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries

A memorandum appealing for support of the California Immigrant Workers Association. Banner at the top reads "American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Relations" The memo is addressed to "All Unions and Councils" and dated March 30, 1994.

David Sickler and Jose De Paz appeal to fellow union leaders to continue funding the California Immigrant Workers Association.

Black and White flyer in support of LACMA Janitors. The banner at the top reads, "Friday Night at the Museum -- Janitor Jazz presents Mopman vs. Marriott," and features two caricature drawings, one of a luchador character with a mustache and superhero outfit (Mopman) and the other, a scowling man in a suit carrying a bat labelled F. Marriott. At the bottom of the flyer, large text reads "Mopman, and his trusty assistants, say "No More union-busting contractors paid for by taxpayers!" and "I support LACMA janitors"

Justice for Janitors campaign flyer handed out at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Flyer reads "Restore Strength and Dignity to Our Union -- Vote April for Responsible Leadership - Quinn, Cronyn, Ruiz." There are checkmarks next to the names and an explanation in between.

Campaign flyer for HERE Local 11 leadership election in 1978 points to declining union power.

Try-fold pamphlet cover reads: "How the City of Los Angeles Subsidizes Poverty and How the Taxpayers End Up Paying for It." It features two images - one the downtown LA skyline, the other an elderly grandmother and her grand baby.

“How the City of Los Angeles Subsidizes Poverty and How the Taxpayers End Up Paying for It” (c. 1996)

newspaper clipping of article. Title: "Janitors on a roll for justice"; year 1991.

LA County Federation of Labor celebrates the victories of the Justice for Janitors campaign in 1991.

Light blue flyer reads - "On the Picket Line but Below the Poverty Line! Bradford Building Maintenance Fires 31 Employees Because They Want A Union" features a description of the incident and a photo of a Latino man carrying picket sign reading "We Want a Union." From the Justice for Janitors (HSEIU Local 399)

Informational flyer from SEIU local 399 protesting Bradford Building Services’ firing of union members ca. 1989.

Small (1 inch square) handmade etching of a picket line of service workers with the downtown L.A. skyline behind them.

A hand-made etching depicts a march of service workers. This tiny work of art (about 1 inch square) is part of the UNITE HERE Local 11 records.

White paper flyer with black text reads "Stop the cooperation between the police and the INS -- Protest 8:30am, LAPD headquarters - Parker Center - March 9:30 am from the Parker Center to the City Council - DATE Tuesday, October 16, 1990. For more information call CHIRLA". The Flyer also includes two cartoons of police arresting people.

Immigrant rights advocates protested the close relationship between the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), 1990.

Orange flyer reads "Santa Knows When You Are Naughty to Janitors!!" features information about a holidays action in support of janitors with a list of buildings who "pay their employees sub-poverty wages". From the Justice for Janitors (HSEIU Local 399)

At Christmas-themed protest, janitors deliver lumps of coal to their employers.

Black and white comic titled "Trabajador Immigrante - Conoce Tus Derechos!" (Immigrant Workers - Know Your Rights!" created by SEIU Local 399 Justice for Janitors. In it, the cartoon superhero Mop Man explains workers' rights in relation to identification, and provides contact information for National Immigration Law Center.

The cartoon superhero Mop Man explains workers’ rights in relation to identification, and provides contact information for National Immigration Law Center.

Black and white comic shows a scowling boss figure explaining how he makes life difficult for the janitors he employs. In the final frame, a heroic figure in a luchador costume (Mop Man) stands triumphantly on the word "Unión" which has crushed the boss.

The janitory-superhero “Mopman” takes on an evil boss in this Justice for Janitors cartoon.

Yellow flyer for an event featuring a wood block illustration of a woman being dragged away by military men, white doves landing nearby. The flyer reads "Building Sustainable Peace in Guatemala, The Union Perspective" and was produced by SEIU Local 399.

Flyer for event on Guatemalan civil war held at SEIU Local 399

Black and white image of the front page of "The AFL-CIO American Federationist" vol. 94, no. 1, Jan. 17, 1987. The headline on the front-page reads "The New Immigration law - Its Impact on Workers and Unions."

The New Immigration Law and Its Impact on Workers and Unions, from the American Federationist, January 1987.

The Justice for Janitors campaign condemns the beating of motorist Rodney King by Los Angeles police.

Yellow flyer reads "Its Official... Security Pacific Bank in 1989's Turkey of the Year!" It announces that Local 399 delivered a mock "Turkey of the Year" award, their 3rd Annual, to an executive at the Security Pacific National Bank.

Justice for Janitors flyer from 1989 naming Security Pacific Bank as the “Turkey of the Year”

Turkey of the Year press release, 1989

Orange flyer reads "On Strike to Protect Our Rights!" and features two images of women, the first with her child in a stroller on the picket line, the second working as a janitor with a large cart.

Justice for Janitors strike flyer, 1990

Newspaper clipping of article titled "'Stage 2': L.A. unions and people who need them meet face to face." It describes the LA County Federation of Labor's Labor Immigrant Assistance Project (LIAP), a program to aid immigrants who were able to regularize their status under the terms of the 1987 Immigration Reform and Control Act.

“‘Stage 2’: L.A. unions and people who need them meet face to face,” LA Federation of Labor, 1989.

Yellow flyer reads "Herds Pero No Vencidos (Bruised but not Beaten) - Justicia para Janitors Marcha de Regress en Century City Jueves 28 de Junio" and includes a picture of several janitors on the ground with police officers menacing them holding clubs.

Justice for Janitors pamphlet announcing a return march to Century City.

Yellow flyer reads "Bruised but not Beaten - Justice for Janitors Return March on Century City, Thursday June 28 at 11:30am" and includes a picture of several janitors on the ground with police officers menacing them holding clubs.

Justice for Janitors pamphlet announcing a return march to Century City.

Yellow flyer reads "Meet Some of the Janitors Mani Brothers Unjustly Fired... Where is the Brotherly Love?" and includes seven images of janitors and their families. The flyer instructs readers to "Call Simon Mani at (213) 430-0500 and tell him this practice is unacceptable."

Pictures of fired janitors and their families conveys the impact of employer actions on the community.

University of Southern California workers appeal to students, faculty, and community members to support their effort to retain jobs.

La Opinion reports on janitors’ preparation for a 1990 strike against Bradford cleaners, a building service contracting firm.

A Justice for Janitors newsletter from 1990 shows union members preparing for civil disobedience.

In the 1980s, new types of business relationships disrupted the labor relations system. In this newsletter, SEIU Local 399 reports that a court has declared a contractor and building owners “joint employer” clearing the way for organizing.

The Danish-owned multinational corporation International Service Systems (ISS) was the money behind many local cleaning contractors. Here the Local 399 reports on it’s legal case against ISS.