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Union organizers say they are “outraged” at Gerson Bakar & Associates, the company that manages the office building at 1947 Center St., because of a contract signed with a second non-union janitorial company since canceling the services of a unionized company in December. 

The primary tenants of the five-story building are the state of California, UC Berkeley and the city of Berkeley. 

Service Employees International Union organizers said the new, non-union contract is “outrageous.”  

Councilmember Kriss Worthington agreed. He said he is currently drafting a recommendation asking the city manager to explore possible ways to break a $2.5 million lease agreement the city recently signed with the property management company.  

Gerson Bakar President Kathleen McCormick did not return calls to the Daily Planet Friday.  

Last December, Gerson Bakar & Associates canceled a 13-year contract with the unionized Universal Building Services. UBS, which paid its employees $10 an hour and provided medical benefits, was replaced by CALJANEX, a non-union company based in Oakland. 

CALJANEX subcontracted to another company, which paid its janitorial staff $7 per hour and offered no medical benefits. 

“This type of sub, sub contract is a real problem because everytime you sub contract it means lower wages for the person who actually does the work,” SEIU Local 1877 organizer Alyssa Giachino said. 

Giachino added that the property management company “obviously” made the change strictly for economic reasons.  

“This sort of thing frequently happens to Unionized janitors.” she said. “And during an economic downturn, we see a lot more if it.” 

On Jan. 24 a contingent of SEIU workers appeared unannounced at the property manager’s San Francisco offices. Giachino said the workers met with McCormick and pointed out unspecified “irregularities” with CALJANEX’s hiring practices. 

According to Giachino, the property management company canceled its contract with CALJANEX shortly after the meeting. 

Giachino said the property management company then hired yet another non-union company, Trinity Services, which is based in San Bruno. 

At this point Worthington said Gerson Bakar & Associates had a chance to do the right thing and go back to a union janitorial service. 

“They have obviously made a big mistake worse,” he said. “They should either go back to the first company or hire one of the many unionized companies that are available.” 

The city signed a $2.5 million, five-year lease with Gerson Baker & Associates last year for 18,000-square-feet of office space, which is used as administrative offices for the Department of Public Works.  

Worthington said a recommendation asking the city manager to consider breaking its lease with the property management company will be on the City Council’s Feb. 19th agenda. 

Deputy City Manager Phil Kamlarz examined the lease last December and said the city has no influence over what type of janitorial company Gerson Bakar & Associates contracts with. 

Meanwhile the three UBS employees, Aldalberto Mendoza and Maria and Leon Munoz, who worked at 1947 Center Street for 13 years are still looking for employment.