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Protestors march to UPMC Shadyside to get janitor jobs back

PITTSBURGH — More than 100 people upset about union janitors losing their jobs took part in a rally outside UPMC Shadyside Friday morning.

The protestors marched to the hospital to hand deliver a giant letter to executives.

Channel 11 News was there when they were stopped at the front door. A representative for UPMC came outside and talked with the protestors after security wouldn’t let them inside.

“This is about making sure we’re making a path for people to the middle class,” one of the protestors said. “This is not about trying to shame her. This is simply trying to help her understand something I believe she would be for.”

The rep promised to take the letter, which details the complaints, to the person who handles hiring janitors.

“We didn’t get to meet them personally, however, we were able to deliver our message to them which was simply that we want the janitors’ jobs restores,” said Rev. Rodney Lyde, pastor of Baptist Temple Church in Homewood.

UPMC sent Channel 11 a statement about why the janitors lost their jobs:

“UPMC opened the bidding for this cleaning contract to both union and non-union companies. We made the decision to award the contract to a 100% percent women-owned business based upon their excellent service, quality, and price, with no consideration given as to whether the companies submitting bids were union or non-union. Each of the 10 employees who cleaned this building under the prior contract has been offered the opportunity to interview for a position under the new contract. These positions offer comparable wages and full benefits.“