Janitors union says it reached deal to avert strike

Negotiators for a union representing 1,400 commercial janitors in the Philadelphia suburbs said Tuesday they had reached a tentative four-year agreement that includes wage increases.

The agreement, subject to member ratification, covers workers in 170 office buildings in Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, and Chester Counties. The janitors would see a nearly $2-an-hour increase over the life of the contract on top of their current pay of $12.35 an hour.

Contract talks began Nov. 5, and negotiators from 32BJ SEIU and the building operators faced a deadline of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. A ratification vote is expected this weekend. - Robert Moran