Gore Hits Town to Back Janitors

By Jorge Casuso

Clutching Holy Sunday palm leaves instead of picket signs, hundreds of striking janitors welcomed the support of Vice President Al Gore at a rally in Santa Monica Sunday afternoon.

"You are winning the ears and the hearts of the people in the community," Gore told the crowd gathered at Christine Reed Park. "It is very important that everybody understand that you are struggling for your families, for your children.... Tipper and I stand with you in your struggle. We are with you. We wish you the best."

The presidential candidate was joined by former Assembly speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, County Supervisor Zev Yarovslavsky and Councilman Paul Rosenstein, who are among the growing ranks of officials who have come out to support the 3,000 janitors as they enter the third week of their strike for higher wages.

After the Vice President left - to chants of "Gore is present, you can see it and feel it" --, the crowd moved across the street to St. Monica's Church for a special Spanish-language mass celebrated by Bishop Gabino Zavala of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

The Palm Sunday Mass, which commemorates Christ's final entry into Jerusalem and ushers in Holy Week with its crucifixion and resurrection, held a special meaning for the striking janitors and their families.

"We find ourselves in this struggle, and we say, 'Where is the Lord? My God, why do you abandon us?'" said Bishop Zavala, echoing scripture. "But God is with us, he walks with us, he gives us hope.

"Let's continue to struggle for what we deserve, for our families," the Bishop said. "We are not alone, for the Lord walks with us. He shall give us victory."

Mike Garcia, president of the local janitors union, said Gore's support was a "tremendous boost" for the striking workers, who are seeking a $3-raise over the next three years. Janitors in downtown Los Angeles make about $7.20-an-hour, while those in outlying areas such as Santa Monica make less than $7-an hour, he said.

Santa Monica - with its high-end commercial buildings and lower wages -- has become a popular target for the striking workers, who marched through the streets clad in their red T-shirts for the second time this weekend Sunday.

"There's a lot of commercial real estate buildings in Santa Monica, and we want to take our struggle to where the commercial real estate does its business," Garcia said after the mass. "We have to demonstrate outside the buildings. Maybe we have to go to these guys' (the owners') houses."

Garcia said there are no deadlines set for the negotiations with the building owners and contractors and vowed to turn up the pressure.

"It's going to come down to the owners," he said. "We have to put economic and political pressure.

"Gore's visit is a tremendous boost. This campaign has expanded beyond our wildest dreams. I think we're in the right place at the right time."