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Luxury buildings in NYC prepare for possible doorman & porter strike

Residents May Have to Man Doors and Bag Garbage; 31,500 members of 32BJ union could have a major city impact

April 12, 2018 By Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Residents of 3,500 tall apartment buildings are preparing for a possible doormen, porter and handyman strike on April 21. Shown: Three buildings in Brooklyn Heights that would be affected by a 32BJ strike are (from left) 140 Cadman Plaza West, 101 Clark St. and 75 Henry St. Eagle photo by Mary Frost

Residents of 3,500 tall apartment buildings are preparing for a possible doormen, porter and handyman strike on April 21. Shown: Three buildings in Brooklyn Heights that would be affected by a 32BJ strike are (from left) 140 Cadman Plaza West, 101 Clark St. and 75 Henry St. Eagle photo by Mary Frost

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Residents of 3,500 residential buildings across the city are facing the possibility that their doormen, elevator operators, porters and handymen could go on strike on April 21, when the current union contract expires.

In many buildings, tenants are being asked to sign up for door duties, and will be required to bag and haul their garbage if a walkout takes place.

Roughly 31,500 members of 32BJ, a division of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) work in the affected buildings. Building managers and supers are covered by a separate contract and will likely remain on the job — but they will only be allowed to perform their regular duties.

Gumley Haft is a managing company that works with about 80 co-op and condo buildings in Manhattan and Brooklyn, including 75 Henry St. in Brooklyn Heights. Last week, the company distributed strike instructions and volunteer signup sheets to tenants.

Gumley Haft has contracted with a security company to supply guards at each of its buildings should a walkout take place. The guards, however, will not act as doormen. Residents will be expected to man the doors and screen people wishing to enter.

The company will enact new rules on a temporary basis, including the requirement that residents be present in the lobby when deliveries are made or guests arrive. Trash compactors will be sealed off and the building will supply plastic bags for garbage. In addition, all residents will be required to suspend work on their apartments, and no move-ins or move-outs will be allowed. Residents will be required to carry identification cards in order to enter the building.

Other buildings staffed by 32BJ workers in Brooklyn Heights include 10 Clinton St., 40 Clinton St., 101 Clark St. and 140 Cadman Plaza West. Some other tall luxury buildings in the Heights, such as 180 Montague St., are staffed by other unions and are not contemplating a walkout.

Union Supported by Elected Officials

On Wednesday, building workers attended a rally organized by 32BJ. Notably present was Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who came out solidly on the side of the union members.

“I am going to stand with you shoulder to shoulder, 100 percent in this fight. We will fight for your rights, whatever it takes. And if we are united, we will never be defeated,” he told union members.

On April 5, the union announced that its executive board unanimously endorsed Cuomo for re-election.

Also showing their support at the rally were Mayor Bill de Blasio, Public Advocate Tish James, Comptroller Scott Stringer, City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Assemblymembers Yuhline Niou and Carmen De La Rosa and dozens of other elected officials.

“You look strong!” de Blasio said. “Every time you stand up and fight for people, and you make it happen!”

The typical SEIU Local 32BJ doorman salary is $23 an hour. According to the union, when factoring in bonuses and additional compensation, a doorman can expect to make roughly $49,000 per year, plus health care, pension, 401(K) and legal and training benefits, worth the equivalent of more than $73,000 per year.

Union members say, however, that it has become more difficult to keep up with high rents and the cost of living. They want a raise, affordable health care coverage and “adequate funds” for training and retirement. The next bargaining session will be April 12.

Negotiations for a new contract began on March 1 between 32BJ SEIU and the Realty Advisory Board (RAB), an industry association representing most building owners in New York City. According to the union, workers took a vote during Wednesday’s rally to authorize the bargaining committee to call a strike if a deal cannot be reached.

“Residential building workers are the backbone New York’s middle class,” Hector Figueroa, president of 32BJ SEIU, said in a statement.

In addition to Cuomo and de Blasio, 32BJ members were joined Public Advocate Tish James, Comptroller Scott Stringer, City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Assemblymembers Yuhline Niou and Carmen De La Rosa and dozens of other elected officials.

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