After weeks of striking and demonstrating, Houston janitors unanimously voted to ratify a contract that would increase some members' wages by $1 (to $9.35 an hour) over a four-year period. About 400 janitors with the Service Employees International Union supported a contract negotiated with six of the seven companies that employ the union janitors.

While the ratified contact gives most of the workers a raise, some janitors may not benefit and could even earn less. Janitors who work in buildings of less than 200,000 square feet can expect to earn $7.25 an hour.

A SEIU representative who helped to negotiate the deal, said the majority of the 3,2000 workers will benefit from the new contract. And eligible workers in buildings with less than 200,000 square feet could gradually move to larger buildings over time.

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