Breaking news: Workers reach agreement with administration

By TSC Staff Report

University administrators and facilities workers' union representatives came to a contract agreement Friday, just days before a possible strike.

In the agreement yet to be officially ratified, facilities workers are guaranteed pay increases and more jobs with the construction of new buildings.

The university also guaranteed to employ a minimum of 16 custodial and 40 non-custodial workers as part of the new contract, Service Employees International Union Local 715 Worksite Organizer Leah Berlanga said.

Berlanga and supporters announced the decision to cheers outside of the bookstore Friday afternoon, with many students and facilities workers applauding the decision.

Details were sketchy Friday if the university would continue to outsource custodial work to Diversified Maintenance Services. Critics argued that such outsourcing threatened current jobs, and that outsourced employees receive lower pay and lesser benefits than current Santa Clara workers.

Administrators were unavailable for comment Friday afternoon.

Read more about this story in Thursday's edition of The Santa Clara.