Union representing Twin Cities janitors pushing for more protection amid COVID-19

SEIU Local 26, a union that represents janitors in the Twin Cities, is pushing for more protections amid COVID-19.

The union asserts that nearly 100 workers have fallen ill and one member has died from COVID-19. They have pressed for changes before, and say a lot of workers are nervous about going to their jobs.

"We’re mostly immigrants and people of color, (as) is often the case, Minnesota’s health and wealth disparities mean that our communities have been hit even harder than the general public by COVID-19," said Iris Altamirano, president of SEIU Local 26.

The union is now pressing for more access to PPE and better training.