Low-Paid, Uninsured (Latina) Janitor with Breast Cancer, Finalist for Glamour’s “Woman of the Year”

“A low-paid Houston janitor with breast cancer is a finalist for Glamour Magazine’s annual “Woman of The Year” contest. Ercilia Sandoval, a mother of two, was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year and does not receive health insurance from her employer. She is leading a courageous struggle by thousands of low-wage Houston janitors, most of whom are Latina women, to win health insurance, higher wages and more hours on the job as part of their union contract. Late last year the janitors chose to form a union with the 1.8 million-member Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

“I’m dying of cancer and my daughters may grow up without a mother because I had no health care, no early detection or other treatment,” says Sandoval, a member of her union bargaining committee. “Houston janitors are fighting for access to affordable health care for all working families in Houston so no one else has to go through what my family and I are facing now.” Dubbed “The Advocate” by Glamour, Ercilia’s story can be found on Glamour’s website.”

Stumble it! | |