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May 17, 2008 6:35 pm US/Pacific
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SoCal Janitors Approve Contract, NorCal May Strike
LOS ANGELES (AP) ―
Janitors in Los Angeles and Orange counties have ratified a new contract that will provide a pay raise and better health care for some 6,700 workers.
But janitors in the Silicon Valley have voted to allow a strike that could leave dirty floors and wastebaskets at high-tech corporations such as Apple and Google.
Both votes were taken Saturday by factions of the Service Employees International Union.
In Southern California, the union says janitors overwhelmingly approved a deal with cleaning companies that would boost wages nearly $1,000 a year over the life of the contract.
It also provides vision care coverage and other increased health benefits.
In Northern California, however, the union prepared for a walkout by 6,000 janitors in four Bay Area counties. Union President Mike Garcia says the rank-and-file authorized a strike and union leaders plan to call one next week.
It would be the first walkout since Los Angeles janitors staged a three-week stoppage in 2000.
(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)