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New York Faces Doorman Strike

Thousands of New York City doormen, porters, and concierges have threatened to walk off the job on Friday if they cannot get building owners to accede to their healthcare and wage demands. Negotiations between building owners and the union that represents 28,000 of New York`s apartment building workers have stalled over wages and healthcare.

Thousands of union members gathered in the streets of Manhattan?s Upper East Side on Tuesday to protest a proposed pay freeze and a proposal that they pay a monthly premium for their health insurance. If the strike occurs, it will affect about 30,000 buildings. Matt Nerzig, spokesman for the Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union, says a strike may be needed. "We can?t expect modestly paid workers to accept a wage freeze," he says.

"And health care is something this industry has long provided. It seems odd to us that during a prosperous time of the real estate industry, they would propose a cut in benefits to their members." However, the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations, which negotiates on behalf of building owners, says a temporary pay freeze is not unreasonable, citing increased costs of heating pensions and healthcare as the reasons for the freeze.