PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

report on Dec 3rd Sky Bank protest
by dfgdfg Monday, Dec. 06, 2004 at 9:30 AM

Activists Protest Sky Bank for the 3rd time in as many weeks. Dispute over Janitors firing draws support.

Activists Protest Sky Bank for the 3rd time in as many weeks.

On Friday December 3rd, 25 people braved the bitter cold for an hour-long protest picket at Sky Banks Northside branch. This was the third time in as many weeks that protesters picketed a local branch. Holding signs such as "support workers rights", "healthcare is a right", and “boycott Sky” they handed out informational flyers and received a warm reception from local residents, with many a horn honk and thumbs-up from passersby’s. Some customers indicated they would consider moving their accounts to the Citizens Bank located directly across the street from Sky. Although visible annoyed Sky employees came outside to take pictures of the protest (an info gathering exercise Sky has been engaged in since the campaigns inception) there were no negative interactions with employees.

The actions themselves are part of an ongoing campaign, organized by the Thomas Merton Center, to draw attention to Sky’s role in the firing of nine Janitors from Centre City Tower; an action many feel was the result of a recent contract victory by the Janitors that secured affordable healthcare for themselves and their families. The janitors were laid-off when building management brought in PF Enterprises, a non-union firm paying close to minimum wage with no healthcare benefits. Sky Bank holds the mortgage on Centre City Tower, is one of the most visible tenants in the building, has a giant Sky Bank sign on the side of the building, and loaned the owner of the PF Enterprises money around the same time they the company was brought in as the new contractor. For these reasons activists feel Sky bears much of the moral responsibility for what happened and has demanded the company not only speak out, but also take tangible actions to address the injustice.

For more information on the campaign to support the Centre City Janitors and take on Sky Bank see http://www.thomasmertoncenter.org/janitors

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