After a sit-in, hunger strikes and a nine-week walkout, janitors at the University of Miami decided yesterday to return to work, as the university's cleaning contractor reached a settlement with the Service Employees International Union. Under the agreement, the contractor, Unicco Service Company, would allow workers to sign cards indicating their desire to join the union rather than insist on the more traditional process of a formal election.
See "Walkout Ends at University of Miami as Janitors' Pact Is Reached", Steven Greenhouse, The New York Times, May 1, 2006