MIAMI (AP) -- Striking janitors at the University of Miami and their employer reached an agreement Monday to end a two-month walkout that included hunger strikes by workers and students.þþThe workers will return to their jobs Wednesday, both sides said.þþAbout a quarter of the university's 425 janitors have been on strike since early March. Several weeks after the strike began the university agreed to raise the minimum wages of its contract employees, but workers continued to strike, alleging unfair labor practices and demanding union representation.þþThe janitors and their employer, Unicco Service Co., agreed to a process by which the janitors can choose whether to form a union.þþHunger strikes by workers and students and visits by former Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards, Teamsters President James Hoffa and civil rights leaders have drawn put the strike in the national spotlight.þþA judge had also issued a temporary order barring the union from engaging in mass demonstrations on campus.þþThe striking janitors approved a plan that allows a third party, the American Arbitration Association, to determine whether the workers want to join the Service Employees International Union, said SEIU spokeswoman Renee Asher.þþAs part of the agreement, Unicco agreed to recognize the union if a majority of workers sign pledge cards in favor of joining SEIU. The arbitration association will verify the outcome. þþ
Source: NY Times
