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Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Groundskeepers at Arlington Cemetery walking off job

ARLINGTON, Va.- Two dozen groundskeepers at Arlington National Cemetery protested for better pay and sick leave on Tuesday.

Mario Ramirez was one of the protesters who was joined by representatives from the Laborers' International Union of North America.

For 15 years, Ramirez has worked as a landscaper under Delaware-based Greenleaf Services, a subcontractor, and Ohio-based Davey Tree Expert Company. But, even as a longtime employee, he said he has never had a raise and that making a living gets more difficult by the day.

"Everything goes up," Ramirez said. "My rent goes up, the groceries and my wage stays stagnant."

"It's really hard to live off of that right now," he said. Most of the workers make around $13 an hour.

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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think this is disgraceful a person can work for a company that after 15 years has never had a raise. The Arlington Cemetery is beautifully landscaped at all times. I bet the bosses of these agencies have gotten their raises every year.That is what is wrong with society now days. The people at top of the ladder think they deserve it all while the actual workers get the shaft. The workers have to live too. Unless you have done it this is hard work.

Anonymous said...

Stockholders want to make money on their investments. Where better to cushion the bottom line than with worker pay?