One Wednesday, thousands of cleaners in New Jersey, Connecticut, Long Island and Westchester authorized the same strike action if talks with management fail to produce what they call an "acceptable contract agreement ensuring affordable, quality health coverage." While negotiations continue, Kevin Doyle, the union's executive vice president, tells GlobeSt.com that they're " not going well." He says that management's latest proposal is "totally unacceptable as it shifts the burden for health costs from the owner to the employee and offers no wage increase for three years." The union--the largest private sector union in the New York area and the largest building service workers union in the US--covers more than 40,000 commercial cleaners and has a total of more than 70,000 members.

The 71-year-old Realty Board has contacted building owners and tenants and issued a set of guidelines to help them prepare their buildings and tenants to weather a possible strike. The guidelines include dealing with issues such as testing building systems, reviewing insurance coverage, updating tenants and reviewing security procedures. It also includes information on dealing with striking workers.

"While we hope we can reach an agreement before the deadline, we are prepared to do what it takes to ensure that union members have affordable, quality health insurance," adds Hector Figueroa, Local 32BJ secretary-treasurer.