As a native New Yorker who was fortunate enough to live in a building with a doorman, I know the work these men and women put into their jobs. The personalities of the tenants alone is a thankless gig ... Now, according a press release SEIU32BJ, put out yesterday (their union), the members voted to empower the bargaining committee with the authority to call a strike if needed. 

Aside from checking out the press release, below, go visit the site the campaign is running at http://www.standwithbuildingworkers.org

Hundreds of apartment building workers in Queens voted today to empower their bargaining committee with the authority to call a strike. The workers, who were joined by Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, are the first to provide 32BJ’s bargaining committee with this power. Similar votes are scheduled for Wednesday in Brooklyn and Thursday in Manhattan. Nearly 10,000 apartment building workers who will be affected by contract talks work or live in Queens.

“Queens’ families need wages and benefits that keep pace with the city’s high cost of living,” said Kyle Bragg, 32BJ Vice President for Residential Building Service Workers. “No one wants a strike, but we’re committed to do what it takes to get workers what they need.”

Contract negotiations between 32BJ SEIU and the Realty Advisory Board (RAB), an industry association representing most building owners, have been underway since March 9 for more than 30,000 New York City apartment building workers. The contract includes doormen, superintendents, resident managers, porters, handymen and concierges working at apartment buildings throughout Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Staten Island.

“We need to make sure Queens workers have good, secure jobs that can support families,” said Queens Borough President Helen Marshall. “When workers can support themselves and their families, our communities and our city thrive.” In the four years since the last contract, the consumer price index (CPI) in the New York City area has jumped 11.3%. The cost of milk and other everyday items have gone up, in some cases more than 10%.

“As a single father raising two sons in New York City, paying the bills is tougher than ever for me,” said Queens building superintendant and resident George Perez. “It’s much harder than it used to be.”

Meanwhile, the value of residential real estate has grown by 28% in the city in the past four years. “Despite the economic downturn, the New York real estate industry still boasts the lowest vacancy rate in the country and the highest average rent,” said 32BJ President Mike Fishman. “This $584 billion industry has more than enough to provide the workers who maintain their buildings with what they need to support their own families.”

Failure to reach a new contract by April 20, 2010 could lead to a strike of 3,500 apartment building workers at more than 550 buildings in Queens – and 30,000 building service workers citywide. A citywide strike could directly affect more than one million New Yorkers living in over 3,200 apartment buildings, co ops and condominiums throughout the city. With more than 70,000 members in New York, 32BJ is the largest private sector union in the state. For more information, visit http://www.standwithbuildingworkers.org/