Janitors to protest Irvine Co.

Janitors and union organizers from across Southern California plan to stage a protest march Wednesday around Fashion Island, charging that the Irvine Co. has stalled negotiations for a new contract.

The protesters, who are all members of the Service Employee International Union, are scheduled to begin their march at noon at 17 Corporate Plaza Drive and end at 550 Newport Drive.

The union’s contract, which covers the salaries, benefits and responsibilities of 2,000 Orange County janitors, will expire Wednesday evening, union spokeswoman Gina Bowers said.

The Irvine Co. contracts its janitorial services to a private firm, but union spokeswoman Gina Bowers alleged the Irvine Co. had been using its influence as a large client to “drag their feet behind the scenes” in negotiations that have lasted for several months.

An Irvine Co. spokesman dismissed the charges of obstructionism, insisting the company had no influence over the internal deliberations of their contractors.

“This is a dispute between service providers and a union,” spokesman Bill Rams read from a prepared statement. “We look forward to those two parties resolving this dispute.”

“What we’ve learned from experience is that contractors don’t actually do anything unless they have the go-ahead from their clients,” Bowers said. “Service providers are dragging their feet and not moving forward — at this point, it’s up to the corporate real estate building owners to step up and do the right thing.”

Bowers hopes the protest will raise awareness about the hardships local service workers face, and encourage contractors to quickly negotiate a contract. Bowers declined to specify what demands the union is making in the new contract.

“These workers just have basic dreams — like decent housing — while the Irvine Co.’s website sells $4-million homes,” Bowers said. “Yet, the janitors who clean their buildings can’t even afford a decent apartment. The irony is pretty rich right there.”

CHRIS CAESAR may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or at chris.caesar@latimes.com.