Janitors Plinio Cabrera, Victor Pacheco, Ludivia Espinal, andMartha Motato were charged with obstructing free passage. ServiceEmployees International Union Local 531 president Kurt Westby wasalso arrested on the same charge, union officials say. The janitorsstopped traffic in front of the train station as commuters rushedto get home.

Stamford Police Lt. Brian McElligott says that the unionpresident and the four janitors were brought to the Stamford PoliceDepartment on the misdemeanor charges and released on a writtenpromise to appear at their court datem which was set for Nov. 6.Other than the five arrests, Lt. McElligott termed the janitorsrally as peaceful.

SEIU Local 531 represents janitors in Hartford and Fairfieldcounties. The union has been on strike since the first week ofOctober in Fairfield County seeking better pay and benefits fromoffice building cleaning contractors. Talks between the cleaningcontractors and janitors are scheduled to resume Oct. 25.