More than two-thirds of the 80 janitors working at Boeing Co.’s C-17 military cargo plane assembly plant in Long Beach began a 24-hour strike today in protest of the alleged harassment they said has come as a result of their attempt to unionize.

The strike, which began at 3 p.m., is actually against Aramark Corp., the building services contractor hired by Boeing to provide janitors, who make as little as $6.75 per hour with no benefits.

“All the workers here have been getting paid $6.75 an hour poverty wages to support their families,” said David Huerta, director of building services for the Service Employees International Union Local 1877, which helped organize the job action. “They are striking here today to defend their right to stand up for quality jobs and health care.”

Mike Clifford, project manager for Aramark, did not return phone calls.

SEIU wants to organize the 150 Aramark janitors, including the 80 at Boeing, that clean plants at L.A. County aerospace operations.

Huerta said janitors will walk of the job at other sites, including the Long Beach Airport and Northrop Grumman Corp. in El Segundo, if the workers’ demands are not met soon.