Thousands of doormen, superintendents and other apartment‑building staff in New York City will vote on Wednesday whether to strike if negotiations with owners stall. The move would be the first walkout by this sector in over three decades, potentially leaving residents to manage trash and mail themselves.

The union, Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union, demands raises that match rising living costs. While exact figures remain undisclosed, members earn roughly $60,000 annually, and building owners estimate health‑care costs at about $50,000 per employee. Owners argue that inflation and a city‑wide rent‑freeze threaten profitability.

Negotiations have stalled on key issues, including wage increases and the shift of health‑care responsibilities to workers. Owners, represented by the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations, are preparing tenants to assume daily duties during a strike, citing operational continuity and security concerns.

If a deal falls through, the 34,000 residential‑building workers could walk off the job next week, disrupting services in high‑rise apartments that rent above $5,000 per month and testing the city’s labor‑market balance.