A union representing Center City janitors, engineers, and maintenance personnel reached a tentative agreement Thursday with Philadelphia building owners in order to avoid a strike.

On Tuesday some 800 members of the service-union 32BJ SEIU agreed to strike if a new contract, set to expire on Thursday, was not reached with their employer.

Philly.com reported that the new four-year contract with Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ includes wage increases “as well as enough contributions to keep workers' benefits intact, adding  some changes in work rules.”

The union is expected to ratify the vote on Oct. 21.