MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Janitors who clean office buildings in the Twin Cities have authorized a strike if a contract agreement is not reached by Feb. 14.

Members of the janitors' union voted Saturday to authorize a strike, saying contract negotiations have stalled. About 4,000 janitors would be affected by a strike.

But John Nesse, a spokesman for the Minneapolis-St. Paul Contract Cleaners Association, says the employers group remains hopeful that an agreement will be reached. He said the group is meeting with union representatives to continue negotiations on Friday.

Javier Morillo is president of the local union that represents the janitors. He says the cleaning companies haven't responded to the union's offer to raise wages to a minimum of $15 for all workers and increase sick days.

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