Strike Is Averted as Doormen’s Union Reaches Contract Agreement

The union representing doormen and other workers in more than 3,000 apartment buildings in New York City reached a new contract agreement on Tuesday, averting a strike that could have left thousands of tenants standing guard in lobbies and hauling trash to the curb.

The agreement between Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union and the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations was announced on Tuesday afternoon. It headed off what would have been the first strike by the city’s unionized doormen in more than 30 years.

The Realty Advisory Board, which represents companies that employ more than 30,000 doormen, porters and building superintendents across the city, had been seeking concessions on health care premiums and other benefits, including sick pay and vacation time. The board argued that its employees were among just 5 percent of workers who do not contribute to their health insurance.

But Kyle Bragg, president of 32BJ, said those givebacks were deal-breakers and his members voted last week to authorize a strike if no contract deal was reached by Wednesday night, when the current contract expires. The union held a rally on Park Avenue last week that was attended by Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senator Chuck Schumer and other elected officials.

Despite the tough initial stance the board took, the union said that it wound up with historically large wage increases, without giving up any benefits.

Annual wage increases averaging 3 percent over four years will bring the pay for a typical doorman (most of the doormen are male) to approximately $62,000 by the end of the contract, the two sides announced. The agreement also includes a one-time $3,000 bonus this year, they said.

“We have a deal!” Mr. Bragg said in a statement. “We got a deal done that protects health care, with no premium sharing. We got a deal done that protects paid time off. We got a deal done that provides the economic security our members need in a time of rising inflation.”

Mr. Bragg said the contract honored the “indispensable” contributions and sacrifices made by 32BJ’s members during the pandemic. “They were there, keeping our buildings running and our communities safe, when the city needed them most,” he said.

Howard Rothschild, president of the Realty Advisory Board, said the agreement was fair and would continue to create and support middle class jobs for more than 30,000 workers over the next four years.

“The agreement builds on the important work R.A.B. and 32BJ accomplished together throughout the pandemic — protecting jobs and maintaining solid health benefits — and further shows the industry’s respect and appreciation for our essential workers with a substantial bonus,” Mr. Rothschild said.

“We would like to thank all residential building service workers for their tireless dedication and commitment during a tremendously challenging period,” he added.