Strike Deadline Could Impact Tenants Of Nearly 170 Office Buildings
By Paul Kurtz
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- This will be the final day of contract negotiations between the union representing some 28 hundred janitors and Philadelphia office building owners. They're up against a midnight strike deadline.
"There is a delta between where we are and where they are both sides are trying to close that delta," says Bob Martin.
Bob Martin, President of the organization representing about 170 building owners, says he's confident a deal will be reached in time, despite the fact that there's been little in the way of movement since talks began in early September.
Both sides have presented their wage offers but Daisy Cruz, Director of local 32BJ Service Employees International Union, says they are still far apart.
"No real increase to workers wages. Just like everything else keeps going up. The price of groceries and a gallon of milk. The wages that they actually proposed would not even help in getting us a gallon of milk now."
It's a similar stalemate on the issues of health care and retirement. A strike would create messy conditions in nearly 170 downtown office buildings.
Martin is confident a deal will be reached, but says strike contingency plans are in place just in case.
"We have suggested to our membership that they prepare to deal with the unlikely event that there is a strike and that they are prepared to allow for their tenants to get in and out and not disrupt normal business at their buildings."
Cruz says a strike could create havoc.
"It's not only about trash cans being emptied, but it's about these bathrooms are being cleaned and these offices being cleaned and tenants being able to come into a comfortable work environment," says Cruz, "But we also represent the engineers who make sure they keep the heating and cooling in these buildings and anything in between that."
Wages, health care and retirement are the main issues that need to be resolved.
