Twin Cities janitors agree to tentative contract
Updated: 5:35 p.m. | Posted: 8:26 a.m.
Twin Cities janitors who went out on a one-day strike last month have announced a tentative contract agreement with representatives of employers.
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 26 represents about 4,200 janitors working for companies that include ABM Janitorial Services, Marsden Bldg. Maintenance and Harvard Maintenance. They clean an estimated 200 buildings in the Twin Cities.
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The union reached a tentative contract agreement at about 1 a.m. Monday, according to a statement from a union spokesperson.
It was the 18th negotiation session between the union and company representatives. The union members' contract expired on Dec. 31.
A statement from SEIU Local 26 said more than 60 percent of janitors "will immediately get raises to over $15/hour" and by the end of the 4-year contract, full-time janitors will be paid $16.42 an hour. The SEIU said the increases will total 12.3 percent for both part-time and full-time janitors.
The union says the tentative contract includes better healthcare benefits with "low premiums protected" and requires employers provide 'just cause' for firing. Part-timers would receive full healthcare benefits and paid sick days for the first time.
"I believe everyone involved is pleased to have avoided a second strike, and we're pleased that the process has concluded with an agreement and a handshake," said John Nesse, a spokesman for the Minneapolis-St. Paul Contract Cleaners Association, the employers group that negotiated with the union.
Janitors are scheduled to vote on the proposal this weekend.