BREAKING NEWS:

Orange County janitors are set to demonstrate at South Coast Plaza today at noon, Service Employees International Union officials announced this morning.

Hundreds of janitors will be picketing for better wages and access to family healthcare on the corner of Sunflower Avenue and South Bristol Street, officials said.

The rally comes on the heels of similar protests in Los Angeles, where more than 450 janitors walked off the job unannounced Wednesday. Last week, hundreds of janitors also staged a march in Newport Center to urge the Irvine Co. to intervene in their contract negotiations.

Labor officials want both Los Angeles and Orange counties’ 8,000 janitors covered under one master labor agreement. Each county had separate labor agreements expire April 30.

Orange County janitors voted to authorize a strike Saturday and received full support from the Orange County Labor Federation, which represents more than 89 local unions and 144,000 union members.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.