Negotiations between the union representing 4,000 Twin Cities janitors and area cleaning contractors failed to produce an agreement, prompting the union to announce a new strike deadline.

“Hundreds of janitors turned out for bargaining sessions that lasted 23 hours from Friday at 10 a.m. until 9 a.m. Saturday morning, ready to take as much time as needed to settle a fair contract,” said Javier Morillo, president of Service Employees International Union Local 26.

“Unfortunately the employers continued to insist on leaving some janitors behind and wouldn’t move forward in good faith on critical issues facing our families. Because of their unwillingness to have serious negotiations, talks broke off for the weekend. With the continued stalling from employers, janitors set Monday, March 7, as the date of their next, open-ended strike if no agreement is reached.”

There is a bargaining session scheduled for Tuesday, the union said.

Janitors and cleaning contractors have been negotiating since October. The previous three-year contract expired on Dec. 31.

Main issues janitors are bargaining for are:

Fair wages, including a $15 floor for all workers

Policies that address a growing workload crisis; many janitors clean the equivalent of over 20 homes per night

Benefits, such as earned sick time, that allow for healthy families

Janitors conducted a “rolling strike” on Feb. 17, walking off the job at dozens of office buildings and other locations, including Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

On Feb. 25, 11 people were arrested at US Bank Headquarters — a building SEIU Local 26 janitors clean — in an act of civil disobedience. The janitors said building owners such as US Bank ultimately set the conditions under which they work.