Hundreds of union members appeared before the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to protest the proposed award of an $11-million contract for janitorial services to a vendor they said pays low wages.

"More and more Americans are standing up and saying, 'We are better than that,' " said Mike Garcia, President of SEIU United Service Workers West.

The proposed agreement would award the contract for janitorial services at county health clinics and hospitals to Sodexo America.

More at source:LA Times

The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees approved a contract with an outside janitorial service to clean the college's dormitories next year, along with various other bids and purchases during their regular meeting on Monday.

After some discussion, the board approved a one-year contract with JaniKing for an approximate total not to exceed $94,886. The cleaning expenses include labor, benefits, supplies and equipment. The board also accepted a bid for fuel and service to college vehicles, a bid for renovations to Arnold Arena, purchase of a new software program and buying a new vehicle for the college's fleet.

More at source: FS Tribune

"The economy is facing a little more in the way of challenges," Richard Wobbekind, NABE president and associate dean of the University of Colorado's Leeds School of Business in Boulder, said in an interview. "The rise in commodity prices has added a bit more of a concern, but the economy is still on a path to strong and sustainable growth."

Considering the fact that people spend an average of 90 percent of their time indoors, few of us are aware of our interior environments. Studies conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency show levels of several common organic pollutants to be two to five times higher inside homes than outside.

You've already detailed your car, had a garage sale and donated unwanted items to Goodwill. You've changed the air filters in your home and dusted behind the refrigerator. So what is a person with nothing to clean have left to do? I mean, besides work all day, make dinner for the family, plan your summer vacation, read books to the kids before bed, catch up the last season of Mad Men before its premiere, and find a more affordable health care plan? How about devote a little much-needed attention to cleaning up your digital stuff? Sarcasm aside, doing a few simple, uncomplicated things to your tech toys will prolong their life, make them run smoother, and save you time when you are looking for files or that photo of junior in the bathtub.

More at source: WLOX.com

DOHA: A US-based firm specialising in janitorial and special services as well as high access cleaning formally launched the New Image Building Services Gulf States in Doha yesterday. Sheikh Ahmed bin Ali bin Faleh Al Thani is the local partner in the venture.

“We saw great opportunities in this region and Qatar being a more stable economy, more community and family oriented, so I came here in October to experience the country and meet potential sponsors and decided it was a good time to come here and start a business. Our sponsors were very supportive,” New Image Building Services Gulf States General Manager, John Ezzo told The Peninsula here yesterday at a function marking the launch of the company.

More at source: The Peninsula

More than 200 workers protested Tuesday outside the Board of Supervisors’ meeting against a county proposal to award $11.2 million in hospital janitorial contracts to a company that union leaders claim would cut staff by as much as 30 percent.

More at source: EGP News

Leslie Reichert ’s mission is to teach and encourage the art of homekeeping and green cleaning so people can enjoy a good life. “I always love to see the faces of people when I show them what a cut lemon and some salt can really do,” she says.

Reichert, a green cleaning coach and owner of the Back Door, a vacuum and homekeeping store in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, runs the website ShopGreenCleaning and wrote The Joy of Green Cleaning, an essential resource full of tips and recipes for cleaning your home without chemicals. She turned to natural cleaning methods after running a large residential cleaning service—and seeing firsthand what the harsh chemicals in cleaning solutions can do to people’s health. Reichert sees three good reasons to green your cleaning:

FALMOUTH - Classes at a Cape Code elementary have been cancelled after authorities found the body of a custodian.

Cape & Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe announced Wednesday that Cornelius Murphy was found dead in the library of North Falmouth Elementary. The body was discovered Wednesday morning by another custodian.

Officials believe the 42-year-old East Falmouth resident, who had a history of medical issues, died of natural causes.

Source: Boston Herald

The University of Colorado (CU) in the US is blaming "defective" toilet paper for expensive plumbing problems – including overflowing toilets in 27 academic buildings on their Boulder campus – that janitorial workers had to deal at the end of the spring semester in 2009.

In a lawsuit the CU Board of Regents filed last week in Boulder County District Court against Waxie Enterprises Inc and Royal Paper Converting Inc, officials said they had to call on plumbing contractors and use augers to clear sewer lines in response to the troublesome toilet paper.

More at source: Global Times