The voice of hundreds of service workers echoed across downtown San Diego on Friday.
Janitors who clean hotels, supermarkets and offices, community activists, and even elected officials marched together to demand better labor conditions for the working class, part of a statewide effort organized by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
"This is the right moment," said Genaro Reséndiz, an employee at a San Diego cleaning company.
He said he was on hand to demand a better contract and treatment so he could continue to help his family.
Participants marched in several parts of downtown, principally in front of high-rises owned by name companies.
Chants of "Sí se puede!" and "Justicia ahora!" could be heard across downtown.
Taking a page for the Occupy movement that flourished last year, the organizers of the march said they wanted to raise awareness that the workers are part of "the 99 per cent" being negatively affected by the interests of a few.
Organizers noted that 2012 was a pivotal year because contracts for 30,000 to 40,000 SEIU members are up for renegotiation, according to a union report presented at the march.
"The big companies think they can abuse our workers," declared Sandra Díaz, an SIEU leader. "That's got to stop."
She said that the community was fed up with its work being ignored.
She added that all workers were asking for was a decent job to allow them to support their families.
"San Diego must be a city that's fair with our workers," she said. "We know there is money in this county. We're just asking for what's fair."
Several politicians attended the event, including San Diego Councilmembers Todd Gloria and Marti Emerald, state Assemblyman Ben Hueso, state Sen. Juan Vargas and U.S. Rep. Bob Filner, all Democrats from San Diego.
"It's sad to see that people who work all week long are not compensated by the great corporations," Hueso said. "It's not lack of money. It's lack of heart."
Councilman Gloria said that the real power in the city rested with the working class; that's why it was time to take action.
"This city is not the 1 per cent but the 99 per cent," Gloria said. "It's the people who work at night, who sometimes do not speak English. It's people that, because they are undocumented, cannot speak for themselves."
"Today, these people are here and it's time for their voice to be heard," he said.
Friday's march was part of a statewide effort organized by janitors. Similar marches are planned for Los Angeles, San Jose and Sacramento.
The organizers are planning to bring a larger group of people together next May 1, known as Workers' Day.
alexandra.mendoza@sandiegored.com
