The strike began around 3:00 p.m., when thousands of janitors, members of Service Employees International Union Local 1, rallied in downtown Chicago, stopping traffic and filling the streets with cries of "strike! strike! strike!" and "BOMA No! Union Yes!" BOMA is the Building Office Management Association, the employer's organization.

At around 10:00 p.m. a vote was taken and an agreement announced, providing for pay increases of 45 cents an hour in the first year of the contract, 35 cents in the second year and 30 cents in the third.

According to Alta Gracias and Raquel Munoz, both office cleaners for more than 25 years, this is the first time in their memory the union has organized a strike. Gracias and Munoz make $11.40 an hour, which is the top of the scale. A new hire picketing with them said he makes $8 for the same work.

The strikers expressed solidarity with a second group of janitors whose contract is up--the 4,500 janitors in suburban buildings who are fighting the Suburban Contractors Association. Just as the city janitors ended their short strike, 1,000 of these workers walked off the job, with thousands more expected to join them this week. These janitors are paid $6.65 an hour, and unlike city janitors, have no medical benefits.  
 
 
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