1.   The rejected contract called for a wage freeze in the first two years, a sacrifice justified by the worst fiscal crisis in the city in a generation.

2.   The rejected contract offer also lacked provisions sought by the union to limit subcontracting.

3.   Gomes said the rejected contracts were for items the committee deemed non-essential or could possibly be used for purposes other than humanitarian assistance.

4.   It would need to do so before unilaterally imposing terms of a rejected contract offer or locking workers out.

5.   The rejected contract could lead to a strike as early as next week.

6.   The rejected contract offer would have required employee contributions to health insurance premiums, as well as higher deductibles and copayments.