Twin Cities janitors reach contract agreement

Twin Cities building maintenance companies said Monday they've reached a contract agreement with the union that represents thousands of janitors.

Service Employees International Union Local 26 had previously voted to give their bargaining committee the power to call a strike over unfair labor practices. More than 4,000 janitors have been working without a contract since Jan. 8.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul Contract Cleaners Association represents five maintenance companies. The association says the three-year agreement provides the janitors with a wage increase and better health benefits.

The agreement is subject to ratification by the union members.

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