(NEW YORK CITY) - 32BJ Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Residential Building Service Workers have kicked off negotiations for a contract covering more than 34,000 Porters, Doorpersons, Superintendents, Handypersons and Resident Managers who maintain 600,000 households across 3,500 Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island Co-Ops, Condos and Apartment Buildings.

The current four-year, industry-wide contract between 32BJ SEIU and the New York City Residential Real Estate Industry - represented by the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations (RAB), expires on April 20th (2026).

The RAB was created in response to 32BJ’s 1934 Elevator Operator Strike.

Union Officials say 1,100 - and counting, 32BJ SEIU Strike Captains are preparing for a possible Strike if necessary to protect their benefits and catch up to the cost-of-living in New York City and inflation.

32BJ SEIU Members want: Safeguarding comprehensive paid family health care that currently covers thousands of Members and their families; A fair wage increases to catch up and keep pace with the cost of living and inflation; Strengthening their pension benefit; Protection of their legal and training benefits; Protecting their Immigrant Members; and Improving work conditions and paid leave.

The 32BJ SEIU Residential Building Service Workers - who keep New York City homes safe and secure through all imaginable emergencies - maintain historic pre-war Co-Ops on Park Avenue, new developments, Condos on the Upper West Side and luxury Apartment Complexes across the four covered Boroughs.

Their day-to-day duties include cleaning all surfaces, clearing snow and ice, collecting and taking out the trash, welcoming residents and guests at the door, keeping residents safe, maintaining building heat, AC, electrical, sprinkler and other systems, as well as painting walls, guarding and organizing packages, and much more.

The Workers are often called upon to respond to emergencies - be it an act of violence, a power outage, a snowstorm or medical emergency - notifying and coordinating with police and medical personnel when necessary.

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