Laid-off L.A. Janitors Travel to NYC to Demand JPMorgan Chief Jamie Dimon Create Jobs, Not Destroy Them

VISUAL: Janitors in purple will be outside the U.S. Open with 17 duffel bags filled with play money to represent the bonus that Jamie Dimon received in 2009.  A small paper bag filled with play money representing the average pay of a LA janitor will be placed next to Jamie's millions for contrast.

CENTURY CITY, Calif., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Tomorrow, recently laid off janitors from the swank JPMorgan Chase owned buildings in Century City are in New York City to attempt to talk to JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, after a week of protests including a tent city in Los Angeles.  The janitors will look for Dimon at U.S. Open, which the Wall Street firm is sponsoring, in  the morning before heading downtown to try to reach him at his office.

"We are coming to find answers," said SEIU USWW Vice President David Huerta. "We want to ask Jamie Dimon when companies like JPMorgan are going to get off their stacks of cash and start creating jobs for people instead of destroying the jobs we have left."

The Century Plaza Towers and 2000 Avenue of the Stars, where the laid off janitors work, are owned by JPMorgan Chase, one of the largest banking and investment companies in the world and are home to some of the most prestigious tenants from throughout the city. Despite paying out $9 billion in executive bonuses and receiving $95 billion in taxpayer-funded bailouts and backstops, JPMorgan is insisting on layoffs at their buildings.  Jamie Dimon alone received a $17 million bonus in 2009 and a $28 million bonus in 2007 before the economy crashed.

Thursday, September 2

10:00 AM       Where is Jamie Dimon? U.S. Open, USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center—Nearest the Mets-Willets Point Subway Station—3 minute walk down ramp toward tennis center to main pedestrian entrance.

VISUAL: Janitors in purple will be outside the U.S. Open with 17 duffel bags filled with play money to represent the bonus that Jamie Dimon received in 2009. Next to it will be a small bag representing the average annual salary of a janitor.

3:00 p.m.         Where is Jamie Dimon? JP Morgan HQ, 270 Park Avenue

VISUAL: LA Janitors will attempt to enter the JPMorgan Chase building to meet with Jamie Dimon. At the same time, 75 NYC janitors, clad in purple t-shirts will distribute leaflets along Park Avenue calling upon Dimon to put a stop to layoffs and foreclosures.

Background:

Two weeks ago, custodial contractor ABM laid off 16 janitors who clean Century Plaza Towers and 2000 Avenue of the Stars, owned by JPMorgan Chase and home to some of the richest tenants in Los Angeles.  Already struggling in a tough economy, the hardworking families affected by the layoffs are desperate, with no way to pay rent or put food on the table. JPMorgan Chase is one of the largest banking and investment companies in the nation and the largest mortgage lender and holder of foreclosed properties in LA County.

SEIU United Service Workers West represents more than 40,000 janitors, security officers, airport service workers, and other property service workers across California. SEIU is the largest and fastest growing union in North America, with more than 2 million members.

SOURCE SEIU United Service Workers West