The janitors are asking for a cost of living wage increase, affordable health care benefits, and the creation of more full-time jobs, according to a spokesman for 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union, which represents more than 700 custodians who maintain buildings in Harvard campuses in Cambridge and Boston.

The university’s janitors overwhelmingly voted Thursday to authorize a strike if their union cannot reach a new contract agreement by end of the day Tuesday, when their current contract expires. Negotiations began Oct. 7.

Having just come off its first labor strike in more than 30 years, Harvard University could have another one in its hands — this time by its janitors.


Currently about 70 percent of the janitors work full time and most of them make $21.87 an hour, according to the union, which did not specify how much of a wage increase it is seeking.

“The janitors who help to keep Harvard at the top are ready to do what it takes to protect their families and their communities,” said Roxana Rivera, vice president of 32BJ SEIU.

Harvard administrators said in a statement that negotiations with the union are ongoing. The school said the janitors’ average tenure is 10 years and, counting longtime workers, their hourly wages average $22.07. The school added their benefits “remain highly competitive in the local markets,” including paid time off, paid winter break, subsidies for child care and commuting expenses, and health care reimbursements. Administrators also said that at 16 hours per week, Harvard has the lowest threshold for health care eligibility, and that custodial employees who work more than 20 hours per week are eligible for pension and retiree health insurance.

“Our custodial colleagues play an important role in support of Harvard’s teaching and research mission,” Harvard said.

About 750 Harvard dining hall workers walked off the job for three weeks last month after negotiations with the school fell apart over the issues of wages and health care. The high-profile strike came to an end two weeks ago, with the school agreeing to a minimum annual salary of $35,000 and to absorb health care cost increases.


The same SEIU local just reached an agreement on a four-year contract for janitors working for the maintenance contractor for Tufts University that guarantees an hourly wage of $21.55 by Jan. 1, 2020. The union threatened an even bigger strike in September of 13,000 commercial janitors who clean several thousand office buildings in the Boston area. That strike was averted at the 11th hour with a deal that will pay janitors $20 an hour by the end of the four-year contract.

Katheleen Conti can be reached at kconti@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @GlobeKConti.