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Unable to reach a contract agreement with the Maintenance Contractors of New England (MCNE) in the two weeks since its 10,000 members authorized leadership to call a strike (see WIT for Sept. 3, 2002), Local 254 of the Service Employees International Union set a Sept. 30 strike deadline yesterday. Following through on its promise to selectively target high profile buildings, Local 254 announced that only members employed by the region?s largest cleaning contractor Unicco will go on strike on the 30th---a decision that will allow the union to picket some of Boston?s most prominent buildings while conserving its $500,000 strike fund. Local 524 has accused this agenda setting member of the MCNE of standing in the way of a settlement, and has said that it is willing to resume talks if Unicco takes seriously its demands for health insurance, raises and opportunities for full-time employment for low-paid part-time employees.