NYC Luxury Residents Brace for Potential Doorman Strike

Residents fear chaos, security risks, and unsanitary conditions if 34,000 doormen walk off the job

Apr. 14, 2026 at 6:21pm

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A minimalist studio still life featuring a set of polished keys, a sleek black fob, and a crisp white envelope on a clean, monochromatic background, symbolizing the essential security and access control services provided by doormen in luxury apartment buildings.The potential loss of doormen's security and access control services has luxury building residents concerned about the disruption to their daily lives.NYC Today

With a potential doorman strike looming, residents of New York City's posh apartment towers are bracing themselves for the worst. They will have to open their own doors, pick up their own mail, and take out their own trash, which some fear could lead to unsanitary conditions and security risks in their high-end buildings. The union representing the doormen is seeking wage increases, better pensions, and continued 100% healthcare coverage.

Why it matters

Doormen provide essential services in luxury apartment buildings, from accepting packages and maintaining security to assisting with trash and pet waste. A strike could disrupt the daily lives of residents who have come to rely on these services, potentially creating chaos, sanitation issues, and safety concerns in some of New York's most exclusive neighborhoods.

The details

The potential strike involves some 34,000 workers in 3,300 residential buildings across New York City who are part of Union 32BJ SEIU. The union is seeking wage increases to keep up with inflation, better pension benefits, and continued 100% healthcare coverage. Residents are bracing for the impact, with some fearing their buildings will 'start smelling like dog pee and poo' without doormen to assist. Building management has already asked residents to limit their trash, and some are preparing to pitch in with duties normally handled by doormen, though others are skeptical about volunteering.

  • Union members are set to vote on the strike on Wednesday, April 20.
  • The last major doorman strike in New York City was in 1991.

The players

Union 32BJ SEIU

The union representing 34,000 doormen and other residential building workers across New York City.

Hailey Glassman

A 39-year-old resident of a luxury building in Hell's Kitchen who recently joined the cast of 'The Real Housewives of New York City'.

D'yan Forest

A 91-year-old comedienne who lives in the West Village and remembers the chaos of the 1991 doorman strike.

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What they’re saying

“It's going to be a mess.”

— Hailey Glassman, Resident

“The staff deserves to be compensated. They see that the apartments are so expensive, and they are making pennies.”

— Hailey Glassman, Resident

“It was total chaos.”

— D'yan Forest, Resident

What’s next

Union members will vote on Wednesday, April 20 on whether to proceed with the strike, which would begin that same day if approved.

The takeaway

This potential strike highlights the essential role doormen play in the daily lives of luxury building residents, and the potential disruption and risks a walkout could cause in some of New York's most exclusive neighborhoods. It also underscores the ongoing tensions between high-end residents and the workers who serve them, as both sides grapple with rising costs of living in the city.