Police Remove Dozens Of Demonstrators In Janitors' Protest

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Police removed dozens of demonstrators from a street near Eli Lilly's corporate headquarters in Indianapolis for blocking traffic during a protest seeking a better contract for janitors.

Nearly 50 demonstrators with Service Employees International Union Local 1, including two city-county councilors, were issued written summons Thursday for violating a city ordinance and not complying with police. The union is seeking paid sick time, higher wages and other contract terms.

The union is in talks with cleaning companies that do work at Eli Lilly and other facilities. The Indianapolis-based drugmaker says it can't be involved in the talks.

Thursday's demonstration comes after more than 40 protesters were arrested for blocking traffic last month. Contract talks are scheduled to resume next week.

HAPPENING NOW: Local 1 janitors engage in civil disobedience at @LillyPad to bring attention to the @SBM_News workers who clean their buildings who are forced to get by on poverty wages. #WeRise to tell Lilly to do right thing for Indy janitors now: https://t.co/fxPUwKSZaK pic.twitter.com/UCx2PmJrTN

— SEIU Local 1 (@SEIULocal1) October 25, 2018