Local SEIU Reiterates Demands As Feb. 14 Strike Deadline Approaches

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – With one more bargaining session planned before the strike deadline, Twin Cities janitors and SEIU Local 26 reiterated their demands outside of U.S. Bank Thursday.

The union represents 4,000 janitors, 2,000 security officers, window cleaners and other service workers. They are fighting to earn a $15 minimum wage.

On Jan. 23, SEIU Local 26 voted to authorize a strike if a contract isn't reached by Feb. 14.

Local 26 member and local janitor, Brahim Kone, reiterated that there is just one more bargaining session before the strike deadline, and if an agreement isn't reached the group does plan to walk off the job.

"If no contract is reached at tomorrow's negotiating session, then our Feb 14th deadline will pass without a new contract. If that happens, one day next week — a day we won't announce until is happens —  we will call a strike in the morning and have workers walk off the job at strategic locations across in some of the most prominent buildings and corporations in the Metro," Kone said.

The janitors have been negotiating since October. Their three-year contract expired on Dec. 31, 2015.