NYC Doormen and Building Owners Reach Deal to Avoid Strike
New York City doormen and building owners reached a tentative deal Friday, avoiding a strike that would have affected 34,000 apartment building workers. The strike was set to begin April 21 and would have been the first since 1991.
New York City doormen and building owners reached a tentative agreement Friday afternoon, avoiding what could have been a massive disruption to apartment living across the city.
The deal affects about 34,000 workers represented by the union 32BJ SEIU. These workers include doormen, security guards, porters, and maintenance staff at apartment buildings throughout the five boroughs.
Union president Manny Pastreich and Howard Rothschild, president of the Realty Advisory Board, announced the agreement at 4 p.m. Friday. The workers' contract was set to expire Monday night, with a strike planned for April 21 if no deal was reached.
Health insurance was a key issue in the negotiations. Charles Vega, a 33-year-old doorman at a Park Avenue building, told reporters that healthcare benefits were the main sticking point in talks.
The last time these workers went on strike was in 1991. Since then, they've managed to negotiate new contracts without work stoppages, even as the cost of living in New York has skyrocketed.
A strike would have disrupted daily life for millions of New Yorkers living in apartment buildings. Residents could have lost access to package deliveries, building security, and basic services like trash collection and maintenance.
Workers still need to vote to approve the tentative agreement. Contract details haven't been released yet.
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