Rahm Emanuel blasted for replacing O’Hare janitors

(Chicago Sun-Times) Mayor Rahm Emanuel was branded a “hypocrite” on Tuesday for championing the middle-class at the national level and giving them the shaft locally—by awarding a $99 million O’Hare Airport janitorial contract to a company replacing 300 union custodians with lower-paid, non-union janitors.

Four aldermen—Roderick Sawyer (6th), Rick Munoz (22nd), Scott Waguespack (32nd) and Nick Sposato (36th) said the United Maintenance contract is part of a “disturbing trend” that has seen Emanuel sell out middle-class workers to save a few bucks.

Citing allegations of mob ties to United Maintenance owner Rick Simon, the aldermen demanded that Emanuel re-bid the United contract in the short-term and adopt the “responsible bidders” ordinance to prevent a repeat.

“We know it’ll cost us more money, but it’s the socially responsible thing to do….There’s no way that anybody can agree that, simply to save a nickel here and a nickel there that we should put all of these families out on the street,” Munoz said. ...................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.suntimes.com/16950379-761/mayor-blasted-for-replacing-ohare-janitors.html