NYC Residential Building Workers Prepare to Vote on Strike

32BJ SEIU members to decide on potential walkout ahead of contract expiration with industry group RAB.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 4:08pm

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Thousands of residential building service workers, including doorpersons, superintendents and porters, will vote on April 15 to authorize a strike ahead of the expiration of their contract with the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations (RAB). The union has accused RAB of proposing 'dramatic and insulting changes' to the labor agreement, including measures that would shift healthcare costs onto workers and create a lower-paid 'Tier II' workforce.

Why it matters

This potential strike would impact the daily operations and services of over 600,000 households across 3,500 co-ops, condos and apartment buildings in New York City. It highlights the ongoing tensions between labor unions and the real estate industry, especially as the city faces economic pressures like a potential rent freeze on stabilized units.

The details

The current four-year industry-wide labor agreement between RAB and 32BJ SEIU, which represents over 34,000 residential service workers, is set to expire on April 20. On April 15, union members will gather to formally vote on strike authorization. 32BJ SEIU has accused RAB of proposing changes that would shift healthcare costs to workers and create a lower-paid 'Tier II' workforce, among other measures that the union says represent a 'fundamental attack' on the labor contract.

  • The current labor agreement expires on April 20, 2026.
  • Union members will vote on strike authorization on April 15, 2026.

The players

32BJ SEIU

A service workers union that represents over 34,000 residential building employees in New York City, including doorpersons, superintendents and porters.

Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations (RAB)

The group that represents the city's residential real estate industry in contract negotiations with 32BJ SEIU.

Manny Pastreich

President of 32BJ SEIU.

Howard Rothschild

President of the Realty Advisory Board (RAB).

Maria Silva

A concierge at a Downtown Brooklyn apartment building and 32BJ SEIU member.

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What they’re saying

“In the wake of this week's disappointing and insulting proposals from the real estate industry, 32BJ has set a formal strike vote and rally for April 15. We won't let the thriving real estate industry raise health care costs, jeopardize retirement security, and undermine the core fabric of a labor contract that thousands of working families depend on.”

— Manny Pastreich, President, 32BJ SEIU

“While we look forward to working with 32BJ to achieve a fair contract over the next month, we respect their right to authorize a strike and all our members are preparing for that possibility.”

— Howard Rothschild, President, Realty Advisory Board (RAB)

“Thanks to our union health care, I was able to get the treatment and care I needed without going into debt. Now, the RAB wants to shift the cost of healthcare onto us, the workers who maintain this industry? That's straight up insulting.”

— Maria Silva, Concierge, Downtown Brooklyn apartment building

What’s next

The strike vote on April 15 will determine whether 32BJ SEIU members will walk off the job when their contract expires on April 20. Both sides will continue negotiating over the next month to try to reach a new agreement and avoid a potential work stoppage.

The takeaway

This labor dispute reflects the ongoing tensions between unions and the real estate industry in New York City, especially as the city faces economic pressures like a potential rent freeze. The outcome of these contract negotiations could have significant impacts on the daily lives of thousands of residential building residents and the workers who serve them.