The vote on Wednesday was nearly unanimous. ~34,000 doormen, porters, superintendents, and handypersons represented by 32BJ SEIU now have authorization to walk off the job as soon as midnight on April 21, the moment the current contract expires. If it happens, it would be the first strike in 35 years — the last was a 12-day walkout in 1991.

Negotiations between 32BJ and the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations (RAB) remain unresolved. The core issues are unchanged: health care premium sharing, a lower-paid Tier II classification for new hires, and pension improvements the union says the RAB has declined to address. Both sides say they're still at the table.

What residents can expect if there's no deal by Monday

The disruptions would be immediate and visible. Along with the loss of everyday services, amenities like gyms and pools may operate under reduced hours or close outright, and moves and nonessential renovations would halt entirely. Residents could find themselves responsible for staffing doors, sorting packages, mopping hallways, sweeping sidewalks, and hauling trash to the curb.

Access protocols will also change. Most buildings have already notified residents that key fob or badge access will be required at all entry points. Managing agents across the city are arranging temporary staffing and security coverage, though a prolonged disruption could drive up costs as buildings turn to outside contractors to absorb operational gaps.

This will be an operational stress test for co-op and condo boards. Supers handle more than routine maintenance — they respond to heat outages, water emergencies, electrical failures, and medical incidents. These responsibilities don't disappear during a strike; they shift to residents.

Broader context

Alongside rising tax burdens and increased common charges for co-op and condo buildings. The union's position is that workers are falling behind inflation while the real estate industry is posting record rents and low vacancy rates.

Negotiations are continuing. There's still time for a deal. But residents in affected buildings should treat Monday as a live deadline and make sure their boards have communicated a contingency plan.