One Day Left Before End of the World Doorman May Strike

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With their contract expiring at midnight tomorrow night, members of the Local 32 BJ union are ready to strike. And while they've been accused of crying wolf, union leaders say they're serious this time. "The steps we're taking for a possible strike are definitely beyond what we've done in the past," said Matt Nerzig of 32 BJ told the Daily News. He said the plan includes shoring up $10 million to cover strike pay and other related costs. The strike would encompass 30,000 workers, and affect over 1 million residents in every borough except the Bronx.

Over 1,000 strike leaders have been trained to lead picket lines and other rallies, and the union has secured a permit to march across the Brooklyn Bridge next Monday. Unfortunately, no one will be able too see it because they'll be too busy panicking over what to do with all their garbage! Though the Realty Advisory Board has sent out manuals regarding emergency procedures, many buildings have been preparing in their own ways, like posting volunteer sheets for watching the front door, hallway cleaning and trash duty.

This also means many residents will have to talk to their neighbors for the first time. Council of New York Cooperatives and Condominiums executive director Mary Ann Rothman told the Times, “If there is a positive thing to be pulled out of this, it’s that it is an opportunity to get to know your neighbors, and to come together to combat a little bit of adversity, because this is not the end of the world, though it may appear that way if the strike goes on." But not everyone agrees with her positive outlook. One resident facing life without a doorman said, “It would be a bummer if they strike. It’s a lot nicer when they help with the work."

In an attempt to avoid the doomsday scenario, city leaders like Bill de Blasio, City Comptroller John Liu, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and MBP Scott Stringer are holding a press conference this morning, urging the Realty Advisory Board to "settle a fair contract with the workers." But the RAB doesn't seem worried yet. Spokesman Jim Grossman said, "There's no reason to believe things can't be worked out." The two sides are currently in closed door negotiations.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jaya Saxena in News on April 19, 2010 12:00 PM

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Oxford

Are there laws prohibiting buildings from hiring non-union workers? Why would they ever hire union workers if there were other options? Granted, there are too many thousands of workers to replace them all, but in this era of high unemployment it seems surprising that buildings can't find replacement workers for at least a good amount of the work.

lampas12

http://gothamist.com/mt/mt-cp.fcgi?__mode=edit&blog_id=1&return_to=http%3A%2F%2Fgothamist.com%2Fmt%2Fmt-cp.fcgi%3F__mode%3Dview%26blog_id%3D1

grove

this is also bad for contractors and service people who need to enter the building for repairs and what not.

Tower18

The biggest thing to me is the taking out of the trash, cleaning common areas, etc. Betcha if this strike drags on, management doesn't refund those common charges. So, they're taking our money, and providing no services. Volunteer sheets to take out the trash? Fuck that. Someone from management needs to get down here and take out the trash, since they're collecting the fees still.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

Why not the Bronx?

valeriob

This will affect more than just the Central Park straddling mansions. There are like a zillion regular residential buildings where residents pay for their services which include; packages, mail, guests, 'security', etc.

Their services are in renters' contracts so the residents essentially pay for the doormen.

Any lawyers out there know how this may change a buildings contractual obligations for a 24-hour doorman?

Where's the "Rent is too Damn High" guy? What's he got to say about this?

NYCstressbunny

THANK YOU! I am amazed by the amount of ignorance about this in the news. Even the Times has been portraying this as a strike by "the people who open doors for rich people in their mansions". It's the entire building staff - not just the doormen (who do not stand around opening doors like servants - they are at a desk handling security, deliveries, packages, coordinating workers and handling requests for repairs, assistance, etc). I've lived in a small building where you run down stairs for the UPS guy and take your trash out to your can out front. Now I live in a huge complex (middle and working class folks -NOT rich people with poodles) with 1500 people (and, yes 18 floors) - so there are large systems here - not the lonely little bag of leftover takeout being carried to the curb or the occasional guest stopping by. The front desk is like Grand Central and we have a staff of 20 people to run all these systems. It's totally different from living in a small building and it is not about luxury living.

We can handle it for a while with volunteers - but for fuck's sake - I wish the the smug "rich people" talk and the denigration of what building workers actually DO would stop.

Thespis

Yep. Living in a large building without a doorman isn't like living in a small building that never needed a doorman. This is like if the elevators went on strike, and some jokers said "well, us REAL New Yorkers take the stairs." Yeah, that's great when you live on the 2nd floor -- when you live on the 40th, an elevator isn't a luxury.

Similarly, when you live in a large building, the staff isn't a bunch of pandering servants waiting on you -- they're what makes the building run. Take them away, and it's not a disaster -- but it can be an enormous pain in the butt.

Plus if these guys are on strike, doorman buildings can't receive any service that won't cross a picket line. This is a huge pain for me, because I'm planning to move from one (moderately priced) apartment building to another (moderately priced) apartment building early next month. If these guys are still on strike...no movers. I've schlepped all my stuff before, when I was young...but I'm not young anymore.

(Current plan: take friends to Vegas. Obtain blackmail material. "Suggest" that they pitch in on the move.)

theevilone

Bingo. Most people I know live in doorman buildings for the security.

schadenfreudian mensch

Then hire a security guard. Problem solved.

slickshoes

thank you!

I'm so sick of reading comments from people who have no idea what they are talking about. This is not a case of rich people having their door opened for them. I'm 26 and not rich and I live in a door man building. The people that are about to strike are the security, the maintenance people, cleaners, people who take out the garbage, people who sign for packages etc.. etc.. its going to be a huge pain in 1 million NYers asses..