Open your own doors? NYC building workers vote whether to authorize strike.

Key Points:

• Approximately 34,000 building service workers in New York City, including doormen and concierges, are voting on authorizing a strike if contract negotiations with building owners fail, potentially starting as early as next Monday when their current contract expires.
• Workers, represented by the 32BJ SEIU union, seek higher wages, better pension benefits, improved working conditions, and paid leave, while building owners, represented by the Realty Advisory Board (RAB), want workers to share health insurance costs and propose a lower-paid "Tier II" workforce for new hires.
• The RAB cites financial pressures such as possible rent freezes, overregulation, and rising operating costs threatening the industry's sustainability, estimating that average unionized workers earn $62,000 annually, with total compensation including benefits around $112,000.
• Union leaders emphasize the need for fair wage increases to keep up with New York City's high living costs, highlighting that 90% of union members live in the city and that most work in condos or co-ops rather than rent-stabilized apartments.
• The union is also advocating for worker safety measures related to interactions with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), but these proposals have been rejected by building owners; meanwhile, residents in some buildings are already preparing to manage building services themselves in the event of a strike.