According to an article in The Star Tribune, the janitors of Service Employees International Union's Local 26 voted late Saturday night to authorize a strike.
The vote was crucial to the union's bargaining committee who is currently trying to negotiate a contract with the Minneapolis-St. Paul Contract Cleaners Association. MPR News Q reports that the union's 4,000 members have been working without a contract since Jan. 8.
The main snag in the negotiations is benefits. Spokesman Javier Morillo said that health care is a major issue.
A statement from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Contract Cleaners Association said that "it was disappointed but committed to negotiating an agreement... in their mutual best interest."
Two more negotiation meetings are scheduled later this month.
