Broward taxpayers overpaid almost $1 million to clean the airport over the 2008-09 budget years, and the county still pays more than other Florida airport authorities for janitorial work, the county auditor says.

The new audit raises an alarm about a $63 million cleaning contract the county has with Sunshine Cleaning Systems Inc. Its 280 workers wash windows, clean toilets, vacuum carpets, and clean parking garages and sidewalks at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

Full article at source: Sun Sentinel

A 1.46m-tall Bronx woman claims a New York City job counsellor got her fired from her gig as a Parks Department janitor in Queens because he thought she was too short to do the job.

Sandra Petersen, 51, claims she never had a problem at work until she asked counsellor Louis Marchi about switching her assignment, the New York Post said.

"I could do the job," Ms Petersen told the Post. "The managers really liked me and know I worked hard."

R&R Janitorial Painting and Building Services of the District won a $3.1 million contract

More at source: Washington Post

PORTSMOUTH — A hotel maintenance worker was transported by ambulance to the hospital Thursday after inadvertently mixing cleaning chemicals which, when combined, created a chlorine vapor.

The accident occurred at 10:12 a.m. at the Motel 6 on Gosling Road, said Assistant Fire Chief Steve Achilles. The call was initially reported as a hazardous materials incident which created medical problems for the hotel worker, he said.

Firefighters found the worker on the first floor where he was experiencing “non life threatening respiratory irritation,” said Achilles. An odor of chlorine was detected by firefighters wearing protective clothing who checked for toxicity and ventilated the area, he said.

More at source: SeaCoastOnline

Seattle, WA, May 05, 2011 --(PR.com)-- With so many different brands and models of stick vacuums on the market, finding the best one can be a daunting task. There is a tremendous amount of marketing smoke and mirrors to wade through, and each machine is heralded as the best stick vacuum for the money. However, the truth is that a large number of vacuums are simply inadequate.

It is possible to find a good stick vacuum, but it requires a lot of research and perseverance. At Vacuum Cleaner Advisor thier job is to do all the hard work for buyers and to then accurately identify the best choices available. Today, vacuum-cleaner-advisor.com has released its list of the Best Stick Vacuums.

More at Source: PR.com

May 5, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- A Chicago public high school has started a unique partnership with a local chain of grocery stores. It is giving students with disabilities onsite job training and independent living skills.

This is an ideal solution for students who need to prepare for life after high school.

At Southside Occupational Academy, the Jewel Lab was just installed in one of their classrooms.

"We have five classes going through with about 10 students in each class, so right now we have 50 students," said Joshua Long.

Long is the school's principal. They have 200 students, from ages 16 to 22, with developmental disabilities.

"At our school we provide beginning vocational training and then we bring them into a setting like this, they can get hands-on training," Long said. "And during their final year of school they actually go out to a Jewel grocery store and they get a work-study placement with assistance of one of our teachers.

More at the source: ABC Local

PARAMUS – A private company has offered to take over janitorial work in the borough's public buildings for $42,000 a year — less than half what borough officials estimated it would cost to outsource the work and a fraction of the $350,000 it now pays in-house staff, borough officials said Wednesday.

Borough Council Budget Chairman Alan Brundage said he was extremely pleased with the offer from Rutherford-based Maverick Building Services, the lowest of seven bids the borough received. But he said the borough would postpone securing a contract until after May 17, the deadline the council gave for employees to present their own budget-cutting proposals that would not require layoffs or demotions.

More at source: North Jersey.com

ROSWELL, Ga., May 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Kimberly-Clark Professional* today announced a significant increase in commitment to its core business by further strengthening its Cleaning & Hygiene organization to support the janitorial supply channel. This initiative includes a series of personnel moves, an expanded sales team and the addition of a third region to support distributors.

Effective immediately, the following leaders have been named to new positions: Ward Johnson, Vice President, Kimberly-Clark Professional North American Sales – Cleaning & Hygiene; Rick Herbert, Director of Sales, Cleaning & Hygiene – East; Mike Leemann, Director of Sales, Cleaning & Hygiene – Central; and Robert Ochoa, Director of Sales, Cleaning & Hygiene – West.

More at source: PR Web

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Hundreds of county workers protested in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday over proposed cuts to janitorial jobs at county hospitals.

It's the first of several protests against a board of supervisors plan to close the budget gap.

Dozens of janitors working for the county and workers supporting them turn out at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration on Temple Street before dawn with drums, songs and picket signs.

More at source: KABC

I couldn't help but snap a photo of this product with my cell phone after I saw it near the checkout stand at a Home Depot. 

The packaging for this all-purpose home cleaner looks identical to the packaging for fruit juice. If I was a parent I don't think I'd want that in my home in case a child reached for it thinking it was juice. Or imagine throwing a party and someone pouring it in the punch bowl thinking it was fruit punch.

More at source: Carlsbad Patch